new things

2026-04-02 19:24:58 -03:00
parent 91870f4046
commit ba38092784
19 changed files with 695 additions and 130 deletions
--- a/packages/backend/drizzle/0002_add_validator_hard_requirements_expansive.sql
+++ b/packages/backend/drizzle/0002_add_validator_hard_requirements_expansive.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+ALTER TABLE "recommendations" ADD COLUMN "use_validator" boolean DEFAULT false NOT NULL;
+--> statement-breakpoint
+ALTER TABLE "recommendations" ADD COLUMN "hard_requirements" boolean DEFAULT false NOT NULL;
+--> statement-breakpoint
+ALTER TABLE "recommendations" ADD COLUMN "self_expansive" boolean DEFAULT false NOT NULL;
+--> statement-breakpoint
+ALTER TABLE "recommendations" ADD COLUMN "expansive_passes" integer DEFAULT 1 NOT NULL;
+--> statement-breakpoint
+ALTER TABLE "recommendations" ADD COLUMN "expansive_mode" text DEFAULT 'soft' NOT NULL;
--- a/packages/backend/src/agents/ranking.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/agents/ranking.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export async function runRanking(
  interpreter: InterpreterOutput,
  retrieval: RetrievalOutput,
  mediaType: MediaType = 'tv_show',
+  hardRequirements = false,
 ): Promise<RankingOutput> {
  const mediaLabel = mediaType === 'movie' ? 'movie' : 'TV show';

@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ Tags:
 - "questionable": Partial alignment, some aspects don't match
 - "will_not_like": Likely mismatch, conflicts with preferences or avoidance criteria

-Every ${mediaLabel} in the input must appear in exactly one tag. Use the title exactly as given.`,
+Every ${mediaLabel} in the input must appear in exactly one tag. Use the title exactly as given.${hardRequirements ? '\n\nHARD REQUIREMENTS MODE: Any candidate that does not satisfy every stated requirement must be placed in "will_not_like", regardless of other qualities.' : ''}`,
      input: `User preferences:
 Liked ${mediaLabel}s: ${interpreter.liked.join(', ') || '(none)'}
 Themes: ${interpreter.themes.join(', ') || '(none)'}
--- a/packages/backend/src/agents/retrieval.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/agents/retrieval.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ export async function runRetrieval(
  brainstormCount = 100,
  mediaType: MediaType = 'tv_show',
  useWebSearch = false,
+  hardRequirements = false,
+  previousFullMatches: string[] = [],
 ): Promise<RetrievalOutput> {
  const mediaLabel = mediaType === 'movie' ? 'movie' : 'TV show';
  const mediaLabelPlural = mediaType === 'movie' ? 'movies' : 'TV shows';
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ Rules:
 - Each "reason" should briefly explain why the ${mediaLabel} matches the preferences
 - Avoid duplicates
 - Include ${mediaLabelPlural} from different decades, countries${mediaType === 'tv_show' ? ', and networks' : ', and directors'}
- Aim for ${brainstormCount} candidates minimum`,
+- Aim for ${brainstormCount} candidates minimum${previousFullMatches.length > 0 ? '\n- Do NOT suggest titles already in the Previous Full Matches list — generate NEW candidates inspired by what made those successful' : ''}${hardRequirements ? '\n\nIMPORTANT: Strictly follow ALL requirements. Exclude any candidate that does not meet every stated requirement.' : ''}`,
    input: `Structured preferences:
 Liked ${mediaLabelPlural}: ${input.liked.join(', ') || '(none)'}
 Disliked ${mediaLabelPlural}: ${input.disliked.join(', ') || '(none)'}
@@ -42,7 +44,7 @@ Themes: ${input.themes.join(', ') || '(none)'}
 Character preferences: ${input.character_preferences.join(', ') || '(none)'}
 Tone: ${input.tone.join(', ') || '(none)'}
 Avoid: ${input.avoid.join(', ') || '(none)'}
-Requirements: ${input.requirements.join(', ') || '(none)'}
+Requirements: ${input.requirements.join(', ') || '(none)'}${previousFullMatches.length > 0 ? `\n\nPrevious Full Match titles (DO NOT repeat these; use them as inspiration for NEW candidates with similar qualities): ${previousFullMatches.join(', ')}` : ''}

 Generate a large, diverse pool of ${mediaLabel} candidates.`,
  });
--- a/packages/backend/src/agents/validator.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/agents/validator.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+import { openai, defaultModel, serviceOptions, supportsWebSearch } from '../agent.js';
+import type { RetrievalCandidate, ValidatorOutput, MediaType } from '../types/agents.js';
+import { z } from 'zod';
+import { zodTextFormat } from 'openai/helpers/zod';
+
+const ValidatorSchema = z.object({
+  candidates: z.array(z.object({
+    title: z.string(),
+    reason: z.string(),
+    isTrash: z.boolean(),
+  })),
+});
+
+const CHUNK_SIZE = 30;
+
+function splitIntoChunks<T>(items: T[], size: number): T[][] {
+  const chunks: T[][] = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i += size) {
+    chunks.push(items.slice(i, i + size));
+  }
+  return chunks;
+}
+
+async function runValidatorChunk(
+  candidates: RetrievalCandidate[],
+  mediaLabel: string,
+): Promise<ValidatorOutput> {
+  const list = candidates.map((c) => `- ${c.title}: ${c.reason}`).join('\n');
+
+  const response = await openai.responses.parse({
+    model: defaultModel,
+    temperature: 0.1,
+    ...serviceOptions,
+    ...(supportsWebSearch ? { tools: [{ type: 'web_search' as const }] } : {}),
+    text: { format: zodTextFormat(ValidatorSchema, 'validation') },
+    instructions: `You are a ${mediaLabel} metadata validator. For each candidate in the list, use web search to verify:
+1. The title actually exists as a real, produced ${mediaLabel} (not a made-up or hallucinated title)
+2. Correct the "reason" field with accurate metadata (actual genres, tone, year) if it contains errors
+
+Set isTrash: true for entries that:
+- Do not exist as a real ${mediaLabel}
+- Are clearly hallucinated or fictional titles
+- Are so incorrect that no real match can be identified
+
+Set isTrash: false for real, verifiable ${mediaLabel}s, even if minor metadata corrections are needed.
+Return every candidate — do not drop any entries from the output.`,
+    input: `Validate these ${mediaLabel} candidates:\n${list}`,
+  });
+
+  return (response.output_parsed as ValidatorOutput) ?? { candidates: [] };
+}
+
+export async function runValidator(
+  candidates: RetrievalCandidate[],
+  mediaType: MediaType = 'tv_show',
+): Promise<ValidatorOutput> {
+  const mediaLabel = mediaType === 'movie' ? 'movie' : 'TV show';
+  const chunks = splitIntoChunks(candidates, CHUNK_SIZE);
+
+  const chunkResults = await Promise.all(
+    chunks.map((chunk) => runValidatorChunk(chunk, mediaLabel))
+  );
+
+  return {
+    candidates: chunkResults.flatMap((r) => r.candidates),
+  };
+}
--- a/packages/backend/src/db/schema.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/db/schema.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@ export const recommendations = pgTable('recommendations', {
  brainstorm_count: integer('brainstorm_count').notNull().default(100),
  media_type: text('media_type').notNull().default('tv_show'),
  use_web_search: boolean('use_web_search').notNull().default(false),
+  use_validator: boolean('use_validator').notNull().default(false),
+  hard_requirements: boolean('hard_requirements').notNull().default(false),
+  self_expansive: boolean('self_expansive').notNull().default(false),
+  expansive_passes: integer('expansive_passes').notNull().default(1),
+  expansive_mode: text('expansive_mode').notNull().default('soft'),
  recommendations: jsonb('recommendations').$type<CuratorOutput[]>(),
  status: text('status').notNull().default('pending'),
  created_at: timestamp('created_at').defaultNow().notNull(),
--- a/packages/backend/src/migrate.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/migrate.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import postgres from 'postgres';
 import * as dotenv from 'dotenv';
 import path from 'path';
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url';
+import fs from 'fs/promises';

 const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url);
 const __dirname = path.dirname(__filename);
@@ -25,6 +26,10 @@ const runMigrations = async () => {
  console.log('Running database migrations...');
  try {
    const folder = path.join(__dirname, '../drizzle');
+    // print all migrations
+    const migrations = await fs.readdir(folder);
+    console.log('Migrations:', JSON.stringify(migrations));
+
    await migrate(db, { migrationsFolder: folder });
    console.log('Migrations completed successfully.');
  } catch (err) {
--- a/packages/backend/src/pipelines/recommendation.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/pipelines/recommendation.ts
@@ -3,14 +3,16 @@ import { db } from '../db.js';
 import { recommendations } from '../db/schema.js';
 import { runInterpreter } from '../agents/interpreter.js';
 import { runRetrieval } from '../agents/retrieval.js';
+import { runValidator } from '../agents/validator.js';
 import { runRanking } from '../agents/ranking.js';
 import { runCurator } from '../agents/curator.js';
-import type { CuratorOutput, MediaType, RankingOutput, RetrievalCandidate, SSEEvent } from '../types/agents.js';
+import type { CuratorOutput, InterpreterOutput, MediaType, RankingOutput, RetrievalCandidate, SSEEvent } from '../types/agents.js';
 import { generateTitle } from '../agents/titleGenerator.js';

 /* -- Agent pipeline --
 [1] Interpreter -> gets user input, transforms into structured data
 [2] Retrieval -> gets candidates from OpenAI (high temperature)
+[2.5] Validator (optional) -> verifies candidates exist, removes trash
 [3] Ranking -> ranks candidates based on user input
 [4] Curator -> curates candidates based on user input
 */
@@ -24,8 +26,8 @@ function getBucketCount(count: number): number {
  return 4;
 }

-function deduplicateCandidates(candidates: RetrievalCandidate[]): RetrievalCandidate[] {
-  const seen = new Set<string>();
+function deduplicateCandidates(candidates: RetrievalCandidate[], seenTitles?: Set<string>): RetrievalCandidate[] {
+  const seen = seenTitles ?? new Set<string>();
  return candidates.filter((c) => {
    const key = c.title.toLowerCase();
    if (seen.has(key)) return false;
@@ -40,6 +42,11 @@ function splitIntoBuckets<T>(items: T[], n: number): T[][] {
    .filter((b) => b.length > 0);
 }

+function mergeCuratorOutputs(a: CuratorOutput[], b: CuratorOutput[]): CuratorOutput[] {
+  const seen = new Set(a.map((x) => x.title.toLowerCase()));
+  return [...a, ...b.filter((x) => !seen.has(x.title.toLowerCase()))];
+}
+
 function log(recId: string, msg: string, data?: unknown) {
  const ts = new Date().toISOString();
  if (data !== undefined) {
@@ -49,6 +56,123 @@ function log(recId: string, msg: string, data?: unknown) {
  }
 }

+interface SubPipelineCtx {
+  recId: string;
+  interpreterOutput: InterpreterOutput;
+  mediaType: MediaType;
+  useWebSearch: boolean;
+  useValidator: boolean;
+  useHardRequirements: boolean;
+  brainstormCount: number;
+  previousFullMatches: string[];
+  allSeenTitles: Set<string>;
+  stagePrefix: string;
+  sseWrite: (event: SSEEvent) => void;
+}
+
+async function runSubPipeline(ctx: SubPipelineCtx): Promise<CuratorOutput[]> {
+  const {
+    recId, interpreterOutput, mediaType, useWebSearch, useValidator,
+    useHardRequirements, brainstormCount, previousFullMatches,
+    allSeenTitles, stagePrefix, sseWrite,
+  } = ctx;
+
+  const p = (stage: string) => (stagePrefix + stage) as SSEEvent['stage'];
+
+  // --- Retrieval (bucketed) ---
+  log(recId, `${stagePrefix}Retrieval: start`);
+  sseWrite({ stage: p('retrieval'), status: 'start' });
+  const t1 = Date.now();
+  const retrievalBucketCount = getBucketCount(brainstormCount);
+  const perBucketCount = Math.ceil(brainstormCount / retrievalBucketCount);
+  const retrievalBuckets = await Promise.all(
+    Array.from({ length: retrievalBucketCount }, () =>
+      runRetrieval(interpreterOutput, perBucketCount, mediaType, useWebSearch, useHardRequirements, previousFullMatches)
+    )
+  );
+  const allCandidates = retrievalBuckets.flatMap((r) => r.candidates);
+  const dedupedCandidates = deduplicateCandidates(allCandidates, allSeenTitles);
+  log(recId, `${stagePrefix}Retrieval: done (${Date.now() - t1}ms) — ${dedupedCandidates.length} candidates (${retrievalBucketCount} buckets, ${allCandidates.length} before dedup)`, {
+    titles: dedupedCandidates.map((c) => c.title),
+  });
+  sseWrite({ stage: p('retrieval'), status: 'done', data: { candidates: dedupedCandidates } });
+
+  // --- Validator (optional) ---
+  let candidatesForRanking = dedupedCandidates;
+  if (useValidator) {
+    log(recId, `${stagePrefix}Validator: start`);
+    sseWrite({ stage: p('validator'), status: 'start' });
+    const tV = Date.now();
+    const validatorOutput = await runValidator(dedupedCandidates, mediaType);
+    const verified = validatorOutput.candidates.filter((c) => !c.isTrash);
+    const trashCount = validatorOutput.candidates.length - verified.length;
+    candidatesForRanking = verified.map(({ title, reason }) => ({ title, reason }));
+    log(recId, `${stagePrefix}Validator: done (${Date.now() - tV}ms) — removed ${trashCount} trash entries`);
+    sseWrite({ stage: p('validator'), status: 'done', data: { removed: trashCount } });
+  } else {
+    sseWrite({ stage: p('validator'), status: 'done', data: { skipped: true } });
+  }
+
+  // --- Ranking (bucketed) ---
+  log(recId, `${stagePrefix}Ranking: start`);
+  sseWrite({ stage: p('ranking'), status: 'start' });
+  const t2 = Date.now();
+  const rankBucketCount = getBucketCount(candidatesForRanking.length);
+  const candidateBuckets = splitIntoBuckets(candidatesForRanking, rankBucketCount);
+  const rankingBuckets = await Promise.all(
+    candidateBuckets.map((bucket) =>
+      runRanking(interpreterOutput, { candidates: bucket }, mediaType, useHardRequirements)
+    )
+  );
+  const rankingOutput: RankingOutput = {
+    full_match: rankingBuckets.flatMap((r) => r.full_match),
+    definitely_like: rankingBuckets.flatMap((r) => r.definitely_like),
+    might_like: rankingBuckets.flatMap((r) => r.might_like),
+    questionable: rankingBuckets.flatMap((r) => r.questionable),
+    will_not_like: rankingBuckets.flatMap((r) => r.will_not_like),
+  };
+  log(recId, `${stagePrefix}Ranking: done (${Date.now() - t2}ms) — ${rankBucketCount} buckets`, {
+    full_match: rankingOutput.full_match.length,
+    definitely_like: rankingOutput.definitely_like.length,
+    might_like: rankingOutput.might_like.length,
+    questionable: rankingOutput.questionable.length,
+    will_not_like: rankingOutput.will_not_like.length,
+  });
+  sseWrite({ stage: p('ranking'), status: 'done', data: rankingOutput });
+
+  // --- Curator (bucketed) ---
+  log(recId, `${stagePrefix}Curator: start`);
+  sseWrite({ stage: p('curator'), status: 'start' });
+  const t3 = Date.now();
+  type CategorizedItem = { title: string; category: keyof RankingOutput };
+  const categorizedItems: CategorizedItem[] = [
+    ...rankingOutput.full_match.map((t) => ({ title: t, category: 'full_match' as const })),
+    ...rankingOutput.definitely_like.map((t) => ({ title: t, category: 'definitely_like' as const })),
+    ...rankingOutput.might_like.map((t) => ({ title: t, category: 'might_like' as const })),
+    ...rankingOutput.questionable.map((t) => ({ title: t, category: 'questionable' as const })),
+    ...rankingOutput.will_not_like.map((t) => ({ title: t, category: 'will_not_like' as const })),
+  ];
+  const curatorBucketCount = getBucketCount(categorizedItems.length);
+  const curatorItemBuckets = splitIntoBuckets(categorizedItems, curatorBucketCount);
+  const curatorBucketRankings: RankingOutput[] = curatorItemBuckets.map((bucket) => ({
+    full_match: bucket.filter((i) => i.category === 'full_match').map((i) => i.title),
+    definitely_like: bucket.filter((i) => i.category === 'definitely_like').map((i) => i.title),
+    might_like: bucket.filter((i) => i.category === 'might_like').map((i) => i.title),
+    questionable: bucket.filter((i) => i.category === 'questionable').map((i) => i.title),
+    will_not_like: bucket.filter((i) => i.category === 'will_not_like').map((i) => i.title),
+  }));
+  const curatorBucketOutputs = await Promise.all(
+    curatorBucketRankings.map((ranking) =>
+      runCurator(ranking, interpreterOutput, mediaType, useWebSearch)
+    )
+  );
+  const curatorOutput = curatorBucketOutputs.flat();
+  log(recId, `${stagePrefix}Curator: done (${Date.now() - t3}ms) — ${curatorOutput.length} items curated (${curatorBucketCount} buckets)`);
+  sseWrite({ stage: p('curator'), status: 'done', data: curatorOutput });
+
+  return curatorOutput;
+}
+
 export async function runPipeline(
  rec: RecommendationRecord,
  sseWrite: (event: SSEEvent) => void,
@@ -58,8 +182,11 @@ export async function runPipeline(
  const startTime = Date.now();
  const mediaType = (rec.media_type ?? 'tv_show') as MediaType;
  const useWebSearch = rec.use_web_search ?? false;
+  const useValidator = rec.use_validator ?? false;
+  const useHardRequirements = rec.hard_requirements ?? false;
+  const selfExpansive = rec.self_expansive ?? false;

-  log(rec.id, `Starting pipeline for "${rec.title}" [${mediaType}${useWebSearch ? ', web_search' : ''}]${feedbackContext ? ' (with feedback context)' : ''}`);
+  log(rec.id, `Starting pipeline for "${rec.title}" [${mediaType}${useWebSearch ? ', web_search' : ''}${useValidator ? ', validator' : ''}${useHardRequirements ? ', hard_req' : ''}${selfExpansive ? `, expansive×${rec.expansive_passes}(${rec.expansive_mode})` : ''}]${feedbackContext ? ' (with feedback context)' : ''}`);

  try {
    // Set status to running
@@ -91,84 +218,69 @@ export async function runPipeline(
    });
    sseWrite({ stage: 'interpreter', status: 'done', data: interpreterOutput });

-    // --- Retrieval (bucketed) ---
+    // --- Pass 1: Retrieval → [Validator?] → Ranking → Curator ---
    currentStage = 'retrieval';
-    log(rec.id, 'Retrieval: start');
-    sseWrite({ stage: 'retrieval', status: 'start' });
-    const t1 = Date.now();
-    const retrievalBucketCount = getBucketCount(rec.brainstorm_count);
-    const perBucketCount = Math.ceil(rec.brainstorm_count / retrievalBucketCount);
-    const retrievalBuckets = await Promise.all(
-      Array.from({ length: retrievalBucketCount }, () =>
-        runRetrieval(interpreterOutput, perBucketCount, mediaType, useWebSearch)
-      )
-    );
-    const allCandidates = retrievalBuckets.flatMap((r) => r.candidates);
-    const dedupedCandidates = deduplicateCandidates(allCandidates);
-    const retrievalOutput = { candidates: dedupedCandidates };
-    log(rec.id, `Retrieval: done (${Date.now() - t1}ms) — ${dedupedCandidates.length} candidates (${retrievalBucketCount} buckets, ${allCandidates.length} before dedup)`, {
-      titles: dedupedCandidates.map((c) => c.title),
+    const allSeenTitles = new Set<string>();
+    const pass1Output = await runSubPipeline({
+      recId: rec.id,
+      interpreterOutput,
+      mediaType,
+      useWebSearch,
+      useValidator,
+      useHardRequirements,
+      brainstormCount: rec.brainstorm_count,
+      previousFullMatches: [],
+      allSeenTitles,
+      stagePrefix: '',
+      sseWrite: (event) => {
+        currentStage = event.stage;
+        sseWrite(event);
+      },
    });
-    sseWrite({ stage: 'retrieval', status: 'done', data: retrievalOutput });

-    // --- Ranking (bucketed) ---
-    currentStage = 'ranking';
-    log(rec.id, 'Ranking: start');
-    sseWrite({ stage: 'ranking', status: 'start' });
-    const t2 = Date.now();
-    const rankBucketCount = getBucketCount(dedupedCandidates.length);
-    const candidateBuckets = splitIntoBuckets(dedupedCandidates, rankBucketCount);
-    const rankingBuckets = await Promise.all(
-      candidateBuckets.map((bucket) =>
-        runRanking(interpreterOutput, { candidates: bucket }, mediaType)
-      )
-    );
-    const rankingOutput: RankingOutput = {
-      full_match: rankingBuckets.flatMap((r) => r.full_match),
-      definitely_like: rankingBuckets.flatMap((r) => r.definitely_like),
-      might_like: rankingBuckets.flatMap((r) => r.might_like),
-      questionable: rankingBuckets.flatMap((r) => r.questionable),
-      will_not_like: rankingBuckets.flatMap((r) => r.will_not_like),
-    };
-    log(rec.id, `Ranking: done (${Date.now() - t2}ms) — ${rankBucketCount} buckets`, {
-      full_match: rankingOutput.full_match.length,
-      definitely_like: rankingOutput.definitely_like.length,
-      might_like: rankingOutput.might_like.length,
-      questionable: rankingOutput.questionable.length,
-      will_not_like: rankingOutput.will_not_like.length,
+    let mergedOutput = pass1Output;
+
+    // --- Self Expansive: extra passes ---
+    if (selfExpansive && rec.expansive_passes > 0) {
+      const allFullMatches = pass1Output
+        .filter((c) => c.category === 'Full Match')
+        .map((c) => c.title);
+
+      for (let i = 0; i < rec.expansive_passes; i++) {
+        const passNum = i + 2;
+        const passCount = rec.expansive_mode === 'extreme' ? rec.brainstorm_count : 60;
+        const passPrefix = `pass${passNum}:` as const;
+
+        log(rec.id, `Self Expansive Pass ${passNum}: start (${passCount} candidates, ${allFullMatches.length} full matches as context)`);
+        currentStage = `${passPrefix}retrieval` as SSEEvent['stage'];
+
+        const passOutput = await runSubPipeline({
+          recId: rec.id,
+          interpreterOutput,
+          mediaType,
+          useWebSearch,
+          useValidator,
+          useHardRequirements,
+          brainstormCount: passCount,
+          previousFullMatches: [...allFullMatches],
+          allSeenTitles,
+          stagePrefix: passPrefix,
+          sseWrite: (event) => {
+            currentStage = event.stage;
+            sseWrite(event);
+          },
        });
-    sseWrite({ stage: 'ranking', status: 'done', data: rankingOutput });

-    // --- Curator (bucketed) ---
-    currentStage = 'curator';
-    log(rec.id, 'Curator: start');
-    sseWrite({ stage: 'curator', status: 'start' });
-    const t3 = Date.now();
-    type CategorizedItem = { title: string; category: keyof RankingOutput };
-    const categorizedItems: CategorizedItem[] = [
-      ...rankingOutput.full_match.map((t) => ({ title: t, category: 'full_match' as const })),
-      ...rankingOutput.definitely_like.map((t) => ({ title: t, category: 'definitely_like' as const })),
-      ...rankingOutput.might_like.map((t) => ({ title: t, category: 'might_like' as const })),
-      ...rankingOutput.questionable.map((t) => ({ title: t, category: 'questionable' as const })),
-      ...rankingOutput.will_not_like.map((t) => ({ title: t, category: 'will_not_like' as const })),
-    ];
-    const curatorBucketCount = getBucketCount(categorizedItems.length);
-    const curatorItemBuckets = splitIntoBuckets(categorizedItems, curatorBucketCount);
-    const curatorBucketRankings: RankingOutput[] = curatorItemBuckets.map((bucket) => ({
-      full_match: bucket.filter((i) => i.category === 'full_match').map((i) => i.title),
-      definitely_like: bucket.filter((i) => i.category === 'definitely_like').map((i) => i.title),
-      might_like: bucket.filter((i) => i.category === 'might_like').map((i) => i.title),
-      questionable: bucket.filter((i) => i.category === 'questionable').map((i) => i.title),
-      will_not_like: bucket.filter((i) => i.category === 'will_not_like').map((i) => i.title),
-    }));
-    const curatorBucketOutputs = await Promise.all(
-      curatorBucketRankings.map((ranking) =>
-        runCurator(ranking, interpreterOutput, mediaType, useWebSearch)
-      )
-    );
-    const curatorOutput = curatorBucketOutputs.flat();
-    log(rec.id, `Curator: done (${Date.now() - t3}ms) — ${curatorOutput.length} items curated (${curatorBucketCount} buckets)`);
-    sseWrite({ stage: 'curator', status: 'done', data: curatorOutput });
+        mergedOutput = mergeCuratorOutputs(mergedOutput, passOutput);
+
+        const newFullMatches = passOutput
+          .filter((c) => c.category === 'Full Match')
+          .map((c) => c.title);
+        allFullMatches.push(...newFullMatches);
+
+        log(rec.id, `Self Expansive Pass ${passNum}: done — ${passOutput.length} new items, ${mergedOutput.length} total`);
+      }
+    }

    // Generate AI title
    let aiTitle: string = rec.title;
@@ -180,17 +292,27 @@ export async function runPipeline(
      log(rec.id, `Title generation failed, keeping initial title: ${String(err)}`);
    }

+    // Sort by category order before saving
+    const CATEGORY_ORDER: Record<string, number> = {
+      'Full Match': 0,
+      'Definitely Like': 1,
+      'Might Like': 2,
+      'Questionable': 3,
+      'Will Not Like': 4,
+    };
+    mergedOutput.sort((a, b) => (CATEGORY_ORDER[a.category] ?? 99) - (CATEGORY_ORDER[b.category] ?? 99));
+
    // Save results to DB
    log(rec.id, 'Saving results to DB');
    await db
      .update(recommendations)
-      .set({ recommendations: curatorOutput, status: 'done', title: aiTitle })
+      .set({ recommendations: mergedOutput, status: 'done', title: aiTitle })
      .where(eq(recommendations.id, rec.id));

    sseWrite({ stage: 'complete', status: 'done', data: { title: aiTitle } });

    log(rec.id, `Pipeline complete (total: ${Date.now() - startTime}ms)`);
-    return curatorOutput;
+    return mergedOutput;
  } catch (err) {
    const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
    log(rec.id, `Pipeline error at stage "${currentStage}": ${message}`);
--- a/packages/backend/src/routes/recommendations.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/routes/recommendations.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { db } from '../db.js';
 import { recommendations, feedback } from '../db/schema.js';
 import { runPipeline } from '../pipelines/recommendation.js';
 import type { MediaType, SSEEvent } from '../types/agents.js';
+import { supportsWebSearch } from '../agent.js';

 export default async function recommendationsRoute(fastify: FastifyInstance) {
  // POST /recommendations — create record, return { id }
@@ -16,6 +17,11 @@ export default async function recommendationsRoute(fastify: FastifyInstance) {
      brainstorm_count?: number;
      media_type?: string;
      use_web_search?: boolean;
+      use_validator?: boolean;
+      hard_requirements?: boolean;
+      self_expansive?: boolean;
+      expansive_passes?: number;
+      expansive_mode?: string;
    };

    const title = (body.main_prompt ?? '')
@@ -28,6 +34,12 @@ export default async function recommendationsRoute(fastify: FastifyInstance) {
    const brainstorm_count = Number.isFinite(rawCount) ? Math.min(200, Math.max(50, rawCount)) : 100;
    const media_type: MediaType = body.media_type === 'movie' ? 'movie' : 'tv_show';
    const use_web_search = body.use_web_search === true;
+    const use_validator = body.use_validator === true && supportsWebSearch;
+    const hard_requirements = body.hard_requirements === true;
+    const self_expansive = body.self_expansive === true;
+    const rawPasses = Number(body.expansive_passes ?? 2);
+    const expansive_passes = Number.isFinite(rawPasses) ? Math.min(5, Math.max(1, rawPasses)) : 2;
+    const expansive_mode = body.expansive_mode === 'extreme' ? 'extreme' : 'soft';

    const [rec] = await db
      .insert(recommendations)
@@ -40,6 +52,11 @@ export default async function recommendationsRoute(fastify: FastifyInstance) {
        brainstorm_count,
        media_type,
        use_web_search,
+        use_validator,
+        hard_requirements,
+        self_expansive,
+        expansive_passes,
+        expansive_mode,
        status: 'pending',
      })
      .returning({ id: recommendations.id });
--- a/packages/backend/src/types/agents.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/types/agents.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,16 @@ export interface RetrievalOutput {
  candidates: RetrievalCandidate[];
 }

+export interface ValidatorCandidate {
+  title: string;
+  reason: string;
+  isTrash: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface ValidatorOutput {
+  candidates: ValidatorCandidate[];
+}
+
 export interface RankingOutput {
  full_match: string[];
  definitely_like: string[];
@@ -38,7 +48,18 @@ export interface CuratorOutput {
  cons: string[];
 }

-export type PipelineStage = 'interpreter' | 'retrieval' | 'ranking' | 'curator' | 'complete';
+export type PipelineStage =
+  | 'interpreter'
+  | 'retrieval'
+  | 'validator'
+  | 'ranking'
+  | 'curator'
+  | 'complete'
+  | `pass${number}:retrieval`
+  | `pass${number}:validator`
+  | `pass${number}:ranking`
+  | `pass${number}:curator`;
+
 export type SSEStatus = 'start' | 'done' | 'error';

 export interface SSEEvent {
--- a/packages/frontend/src/api/client.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/api/client.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ export function createRecommendation(body: {
  brainstorm_count?: number;
  media_type: MediaType;
  use_web_search?: boolean;
+  use_validator?: boolean;
+  hard_requirements?: boolean;
+  self_expansive?: boolean;
+  expansive_passes?: number;
+  expansive_mode?: 'soft' | 'extreme';
 }): Promise<{ id: string }> {
  return request('/recommendations', {
    method: 'POST',
--- a/packages/frontend/src/components/Cards.css
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/components/Cards.css
@@ -62,6 +62,18 @@
  color: #e879f9;
 }

+.badge-verified {
+  background: rgba(34, 197, 94, 0.15);
+  color: #4ade80;
+}
+
+.card-badges {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  gap: 6px;
+  margin-bottom: 10px;
+}
+
 .card-title {
  font-size: 16px;
  font-weight: 600;
@@ -81,7 +93,6 @@
  background: rgba(148, 163, 184, 0.12);
  color: var(--text-dim);
  display: inline-block;
-  margin-bottom: 10px;
  text-transform: none;
  letter-spacing: 0;
 }
--- a/packages/frontend/src/components/Modal.css
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/components/Modal.css
@@ -245,3 +245,63 @@
 .toggle-switch.on .toggle-knob {
  transform: translateX(18px);
 }
+
+/* ── Disabled toggle ─────────────────────────────────────── */
+
+.toggle-disabled {
+  opacity: 0.45;
+  cursor: not-allowed;
+}
+
+.toggle-switch-disabled {
+  cursor: not-allowed;
+}
+
+/* ── Self Expansive options ──────────────────────────────── */
+
+.expansive-options {
+  padding: 12px 14px;
+  background: var(--bg-surface-2);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 14px;
+  margin-top: -8px;
+}
+
+.mode-buttons {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 8px;
+}
+
+.mode-btn {
+  flex: 1;
+  padding: 8px 0;
+  background: var(--bg-surface);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+  font-size: 13px;
+  font-weight: 500;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  transition: background 0.15s, border-color 0.15s, color 0.15s;
+  font-family: inherit;
+}
+
+.mode-btn--active {
+  background: var(--accent-dim);
+  border-color: var(--accent);
+  color: var(--accent);
+}
+
+.mode-btn:hover:not(.mode-btn--active) {
+  background: var(--bg-surface-3);
+  border-color: var(--text-dim);
+  color: var(--text);
+}
+
+.mode-desc {
+  display: block;
+  margin-top: 4px;
+}
--- a/packages/frontend/src/components/NewRecommendationModal.tsx
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/components/NewRecommendationModal.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ interface NewRecommendationModalProps {
    brainstorm_count?: number;
    media_type: MediaType;
    use_web_search?: boolean;
+    use_validator?: boolean;
+    hard_requirements?: boolean;
+    self_expansive?: boolean;
+    expansive_passes?: number;
+    expansive_mode?: 'soft' | 'extreme';
  }) => Promise<void>;
 }

@@ -24,6 +29,11 @@ export function NewRecommendationModal({ onClose, onSubmit }: NewRecommendationM
  const [themes, setThemes] = useState('');
  const [brainstormCount, setBrainstormCount] = useState(100);
  const [useWebSearch, setUseWebSearch] = useState(false);
+  const [useValidator, setUseValidator] = useState(false);
+  const [useHardRequirements, setUseHardRequirements] = useState(false);
+  const [selfExpansive, setSelfExpansive] = useState(false);
+  const [expansivePasses, setExpansivePasses] = useState(2);
+  const [expansiveMode, setExpansiveMode] = useState<'soft' | 'extreme'>('soft');
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);

  const mediaLabel = mediaType === 'movie' ? 'Movie' : 'TV Show';
@@ -34,6 +44,12 @@ export function NewRecommendationModal({ onClose, onSubmit }: NewRecommendationM
    setStep('form');
  };

+  const handleWebSearchToggle = () => {
+    const next = !useWebSearch;
+    setUseWebSearch(next);
+    if (!next) setUseValidator(false);
+  };
+
  const handleSubmit = async (e: Event) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    if (!mainPrompt.trim()) return;
@@ -47,6 +63,11 @@ export function NewRecommendationModal({ onClose, onSubmit }: NewRecommendationM
        brainstorm_count: brainstormCount,
        media_type: mediaType,
        use_web_search: useWebSearch,
+        use_validator: useValidator,
+        hard_requirements: useHardRequirements,
+        self_expansive: selfExpansive,
+        expansive_passes: selfExpansive ? expansivePasses : 1,
+        expansive_mode: expansiveMode,
      });
      onClose();
    } finally {
@@ -165,12 +186,96 @@ export function NewRecommendationModal({ onClose, onSubmit }: NewRecommendationM
                    <span class="toggle-title">Web Search</span>
                    <span class="toggle-desc">Use real-time web search for more accurate and up-to-date {mediaPluralLabel}</span>
                  </div>
-                  <div class={`toggle-switch${useWebSearch ? ' on' : ''}`} onClick={() => setUseWebSearch((v) => !v)}>
+                  <div class={`toggle-switch${useWebSearch ? ' on' : ''}`} onClick={handleWebSearchToggle}>
                    <div class="toggle-knob" />
                  </div>
                </label>
              </div>

+              <div class="form-group-toggle">
+                <label class={`toggle-label${!useWebSearch ? ' toggle-disabled' : ''}`}>
+                  <div class="toggle-text">
+                    <span class="toggle-title">Validator Agent</span>
+                    <span class="toggle-desc">
+                      Verify candidates against real {mediaPluralLabel} metadata using web search
+                      {!useWebSearch && ' (requires Web Search)'}
+                    </span>
+                  </div>
+                  <div
+                    class={`toggle-switch${useValidator ? ' on' : ''}${!useWebSearch ? ' toggle-switch-disabled' : ''}`}
+                    onClick={() => useWebSearch && setUseValidator((v) => !v)}
+                  >
+                    <div class="toggle-knob" />
+                  </div>
+                </label>
+              </div>
+
+              <div class="form-group-toggle">
+                <label class="toggle-label">
+                  <div class="toggle-text">
+                    <span class="toggle-title">Hard Requirements</span>
+                    <span class="toggle-desc">Strictly enforce all specified requirements when generating and ranking</span>
+                  </div>
+                  <div class={`toggle-switch${useHardRequirements ? ' on' : ''}`} onClick={() => setUseHardRequirements((v) => !v)}>
+                    <div class="toggle-knob" />
+                  </div>
+                </label>
+              </div>
+
+              <div class="form-group-toggle">
+                <label class="toggle-label">
+                  <div class="toggle-text">
+                    <span class="toggle-title">Self Expansive Mode</span>
+                    <span class="toggle-desc">Re-run the pipeline using Full Match results to discover more great {mediaPluralLabel}</span>
+                  </div>
+                  <div class={`toggle-switch${selfExpansive ? ' on' : ''}`} onClick={() => setSelfExpansive((v) => !v)}>
+                    <div class="toggle-knob" />
+                  </div>
+                </label>
+              </div>
+
+              {selfExpansive && (
+                <div class="expansive-options">
+                  <div class="form-group">
+                    <label for="expansive-passes">Extra passes ({expansivePasses})</label>
+                    <input
+                      id="expansive-passes"
+                      type="range"
+                      class="form-input"
+                      min={1}
+                      max={5}
+                      step={1}
+                      value={expansivePasses}
+                      onInput={(e) => setExpansivePasses(Number((e.target as HTMLInputElement).value))}
+                    />
+                  </div>
+                  <div class="form-group">
+                    <label>Mode</label>
+                    <div class="mode-buttons">
+                      <button
+                        type="button"
+                        class={`mode-btn${expansiveMode === 'soft' ? ' mode-btn--active' : ''}`}
+                        onClick={() => setExpansiveMode('soft')}
+                      >
+                        Soft
+                      </button>
+                      <button
+                        type="button"
+                        class={`mode-btn${expansiveMode === 'extreme' ? ' mode-btn--active' : ''}`}
+                        onClick={() => setExpansiveMode('extreme')}
+                      >
+                        Extreme
+                      </button>
+                    </div>
+                    <span class="toggle-desc mode-desc">
+                      {expansiveMode === 'soft'
+                        ? 'Each extra pass brainstorms 60 new candidates in 2 buckets'
+                        : `Each extra pass brainstorms ${brainstormCount} new candidates (same as main pass)`}
+                    </span>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              )}
+
              <div class="modal-actions">
                <button type="button" class="btn-secondary" onClick={onClose} disabled={loading}>
                  Cancel
--- a/packages/frontend/src/components/PipelineProgress.css
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/components/PipelineProgress.css
@@ -88,3 +88,26 @@
 .pipeline-retry {
  margin-top: 20px;
 }
+
+.pipeline-step--skipped {
+  border-color: var(--border);
+  background: var(--bg-surface);
+  opacity: 0.45;
+}
+
+.stage-skipped {
+  color: var(--text-dim);
+}
+
+.pipeline-pass-group--extra {
+  margin-top: 20px;
+}
+
+.pipeline-pass-label {
+  font-size: 11px;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+  color: var(--text-dim);
+  margin-bottom: 8px;
+}
--- a/packages/frontend/src/components/PipelineProgress.tsx
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/components/PipelineProgress.tsx
@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 import './PipelineProgress.css';
 import type { StageMap, StageStatus } from '../types/index.js';

-const STAGES: { key: keyof StageMap; label: string }[] = [
-  { key: 'interpreter', label: 'Interpreting Preferences' },
-  { key: 'retrieval', label: 'Generating Candidates' },
-  { key: 'ranking', label: 'Ranking Candidates' },
-  { key: 'curator', label: 'Curating Results' },
-];
+export interface StageEntry {
+  key: string;
+  label: string;
+}
+
+export interface StageGroup {
+  label: string;
+  stages: StageEntry[];
+}

 interface PipelineProgressProps {
+  stageGroups: StageGroup[];
  stages: StageMap;
  onRetry?: () => void;
 }
@@ -21,25 +25,35 @@ function StageIcon({ status }: { status: StageStatus }) {
      return <span class="stage-icon stage-error">✗</span>;
    case 'running':
      return <span class="stage-icon stage-running spinner">⟳</span>;
+    case 'skipped':
+      return <span class="stage-icon stage-skipped">—</span>;
    default:
      return <span class="stage-icon stage-pending">○</span>;
  }
 }

-export function PipelineProgress({ stages, onRetry }: PipelineProgressProps) {
+export function PipelineProgress({ stageGroups, stages, onRetry }: PipelineProgressProps) {
  const hasError = Object.values(stages).some((s) => s === 'error');

  return (
    <div class="pipeline-progress">
      <h3 class="pipeline-title">{hasError ? 'Pipeline Failed' : 'Generating Recommendations…'}</h3>
+      {stageGroups.map((group, gi) => (
+        <div key={gi} class={`pipeline-pass-group${gi > 0 ? ' pipeline-pass-group--extra' : ''}`}>
+          {group.label && <div class="pipeline-pass-label">{group.label}</div>}
          <ul class="pipeline-steps">
-        {STAGES.map(({ key, label }) => (
-          <li key={key} class={`pipeline-step pipeline-step--${stages[key]}`}>
-            <StageIcon status={stages[key]} />
+            {group.stages.map(({ key, label }) => {
+              const status: StageStatus = stages[key] ?? 'pending';
+              return (
+                <li key={key} class={`pipeline-step pipeline-step--${status}`}>
+                  <StageIcon status={status} />
                  <span class="pipeline-step-label">{label}</span>
                </li>
-        ))}
+              );
+            })}
          </ul>
+        </div>
+      ))}
      {hasError && onRetry && (
        <div class="pipeline-retry">
          <button class="btn-primary" onClick={onRetry}>Re-run Pipeline</button>
--- a/packages/frontend/src/components/RecommendationCard.tsx
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/components/RecommendationCard.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type { CuratorOutput, CuratorCategory } from '../types/index.js';

 interface RecommendationCardProps {
  show: CuratorOutput;
+  verified?: boolean;
  existingFeedback?: { stars: number; feedback: string };
  onFeedback: (item_name: string, stars: number, feedback: string) => Promise<void>;
 }
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ const CATEGORY_COLORS: Record<CuratorCategory, string> = {
  'Will Not Like': 'badge-red',
 };

-export function RecommendationCard({ show, existingFeedback, onFeedback }: RecommendationCardProps) {
+export function RecommendationCard({ show, verified, existingFeedback, onFeedback }: RecommendationCardProps) {
  const [selectedStars, setSelectedStars] = useState(existingFeedback?.stars ?? 0);
  const [hoverStar, setHoverStar] = useState(0);
  const [comment, setComment] = useState(existingFeedback?.feedback ?? '');
@@ -49,7 +50,10 @@ export function RecommendationCard({ show, existingFeedback, onFeedback }: Recom
      </div>
      <p class="card-explanation">{show.explanation}</p>

+      <div class="card-badges">
        {show.genre && <span class="badge genre-badge">{show.genre}</span>}
+        {verified && <span class="badge badge-verified">Verified</span>}
+      </div>

      {(show.pros?.length > 0 || show.cons?.length > 0) && (
        <div class="pros-cons-table">
--- a/packages/frontend/src/hooks/useRecommendations.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/hooks/useRecommendations.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ export function useRecommendations() {
      brainstorm_count?: number;
      media_type: MediaType;
      use_web_search?: boolean;
+      use_validator?: boolean;
+      hard_requirements?: boolean;
+      self_expansive?: boolean;
+      expansive_passes?: number;
+      expansive_mode?: 'soft' | 'extreme';
    }) => {
      const { id } = await createRecommendation(body);
      await refreshList();
--- a/packages/frontend/src/pages/Recom.tsx
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/pages/Recom.tsx
@@ -2,33 +2,71 @@ import { useState, useCallback, useEffect } from 'preact/hooks';
 import './Recom.css';
 import { route } from 'preact-router';
 import { PipelineProgress } from '../components/PipelineProgress.js';
+import type { StageGroup } from '../components/PipelineProgress.js';
 import { RecommendationCard } from '../components/RecommendationCard.js';
 import { Sidebar } from '../components/Sidebar.js';
 import { NewRecommendationModal } from '../components/NewRecommendationModal.js';
 import { useRecommendationsContext } from '../context/RecommendationsContext.js';
 import { useSSE } from '../hooks/useSSE.js';
 import { getRecommendation } from '../api/client.js';
-import type { Recommendation, SSEEvent, StageMap, PipelineStage } from '../types/index.js';
+import type { Recommendation, SSEEvent, StageMap, StageStatus } from '../types/index.js';

 interface RecomProps {
  id: string;
  path?: string;
 }

-const DEFAULT_STAGES: StageMap = {
+function buildDefaultStages(rec: Recommendation | null): StageMap {
+  const map: StageMap = {
    interpreter: 'pending',
    retrieval: 'pending',
+    validator: 'pending',
    ranking: 'pending',
    curator: 'pending',
  };
+  if (rec?.self_expansive && rec.expansive_passes > 0) {
+    for (let i = 0; i < rec.expansive_passes; i++) {
+      const p = i + 2;
+      map[`pass${p}:retrieval`] = 'pending';
+      if (rec.use_validator) map[`pass${p}:validator`] = 'pending';
+      map[`pass${p}:ranking`] = 'pending';
+      map[`pass${p}:curator`] = 'pending';
+    }
+  }
+  return map;
+}

-const STAGE_ORDER: (keyof StageMap)[] = ['interpreter', 'retrieval', 'ranking', 'curator'];
+function buildStageGroups(rec: Recommendation | null): StageGroup[] {
+  const baseStages = [
+    { key: 'interpreter', label: 'Interpreting Preferences' },
+    { key: 'retrieval', label: 'Generating Candidates' },
+    { key: 'validator', label: 'Validating Candidates' },
+    { key: 'ranking', label: 'Ranking Candidates' },
+    { key: 'curator', label: 'Curating Results' },
+  ];
+  const groups: StageGroup[] = [{ label: '', stages: baseStages }];
+  if (rec?.self_expansive && rec.expansive_passes > 0) {
+    for (let i = 0; i < rec.expansive_passes; i++) {
+      const p = i + 2;
+      groups.push({
+        label: `Pass ${p}`,
+        stages: [
+          { key: `pass${p}:retrieval`, label: 'Generating Candidates' },
+          ...(rec.use_validator ? [{ key: `pass${p}:validator`, label: 'Validating Candidates' }] : []),
+          { key: `pass${p}:ranking`, label: 'Ranking Candidates' },
+          { key: `pass${p}:curator`, label: 'Curating Results' },
+        ],
+      });
+    }
+  }
+  return groups;
+}

 export function Recom({ id }: RecomProps) {
  const { list, feedback, submitFeedback, rerank, updateStatus, updateTitle, refreshList, createNew, deleteRec } = useRecommendationsContext();

  const [rec, setRec] = useState<Recommendation | null>(null);
-  const [stages, setStages] = useState<StageMap>(DEFAULT_STAGES);
+  const [stages, setStages] = useState<StageMap>(buildDefaultStages(null));
  // sseKey drives the SSE connection. null = inactive; a number = active.
  // Using a timestamp nonce ensures the URL is always unique on (re)connect,
  // so useSSE's useEffect always re-runs even if the base path hasn't changed.
@@ -42,13 +80,13 @@ export function Recom({ id }: RecomProps) {

  useEffect(() => {
    setRec(null);
-    setStages(DEFAULT_STAGES);
+    setStages(buildDefaultStages(null));
    setSseKey(null);
    getRecommendation(id)
      .then((data) => {
        setRec(data);
        if (data.status === 'running' || data.status === 'pending') {
-          setStages(DEFAULT_STAGES);
+          setStages(buildDefaultStages(data));
          setSseKey(Date.now());
        }
      })
@@ -58,13 +96,20 @@ export function Recom({ id }: RecomProps) {
  const handleSSEEvent = useCallback(
    (event: SSEEvent) => {
      if (event.stage !== 'complete') {
-        const stageKey = event.stage as keyof StageMap;
-        if (STAGE_ORDER.includes(stageKey)) {
-          setStages((prev) => ({
-            ...prev,
-            [stageKey]: event.status === 'start' ? 'running' : event.status === 'done' ? 'done' : 'error',
-          }));
+        const stageKey = event.stage as string;
+        setStages((prev) => {
+          if (!(stageKey in prev)) return prev;
+          const eventData = event.data as { skipped?: boolean } | undefined;
+          let newStatus: StageStatus;
+          if (event.status === 'start') {
+            newStatus = 'running';
+          } else if (event.status === 'done') {
+            newStatus = eventData?.skipped ? 'skipped' : 'done';
+          } else {
+            newStatus = 'error';
          }
+          return { ...prev, [stageKey]: newStatus };
+        });
      }

      if (event.stage === 'complete' && event.status === 'done') {
@@ -88,9 +133,9 @@ export function Recom({ id }: RecomProps) {
        setSseKey(null);
        updateStatus(id, 'error');
        setRec((prev) => (prev ? { ...prev, status: 'error' as const } : null));
-        const stageKey = event.stage as PipelineStage;
+        const stageKey = event.stage as string;
        if (stageKey !== 'complete') {
-          setStages((prev) => ({ ...prev, [stageKey as keyof StageMap]: 'error' }));
+          setStages((prev) => (stageKey in prev ? { ...prev, [stageKey]: 'error' } : prev));
        }
      }
    },
@@ -102,7 +147,10 @@ export function Recom({ id }: RecomProps) {
      if (data.status === 'done') {
        setSseKey(null);
        setRec(data);
-        setStages({ interpreter: 'done', retrieval: 'done', ranking: 'done', curator: 'done' });
+        const allDone = Object.fromEntries(
+          Object.keys(buildDefaultStages(data)).map((k) => [k, 'done' as StageStatus])
+        );
+        setStages(allDone);
        updateStatus(id, 'done');
        void refreshList();
      } else if (data.status === 'error') {
@@ -121,14 +169,14 @@ export function Recom({ id }: RecomProps) {

  const handleRetry = async () => {
    await rerank(id);
-    setStages(DEFAULT_STAGES);
+    setStages(buildDefaultStages(rec));
    setSseKey(Date.now());
    setRec((prev) => (prev ? { ...prev, status: 'pending' as const } : null));
  };

  const handleRerank = async () => {
    await rerank(id);
-    setStages(DEFAULT_STAGES);
+    setStages(buildDefaultStages(rec));
    setSseKey(Date.now());
    setRec((prev) => (prev ? { ...prev, status: 'pending' as const } : null));
  };
@@ -141,6 +189,11 @@ export function Recom({ id }: RecomProps) {
    brainstorm_count?: number;
    media_type: import('../types/index.js').MediaType;
    use_web_search?: boolean;
+    use_validator?: boolean;
+    hard_requirements?: boolean;
+    self_expansive?: boolean;
+    expansive_passes?: number;
+    expansive_mode?: 'soft' | 'extreme';
  }) => {
    const newId = await createNew(body);
    route(`/recom/${newId}`);
@@ -148,6 +201,7 @@ export function Recom({ id }: RecomProps) {

  const isRunning = rec?.status === 'running' || rec?.status === 'pending' || sseKey !== null;
  const feedbackMap = new Map(feedback.map((f) => [f.item_name, f]));
+  const stageGroups = buildStageGroups(rec);

  return (
    <div class="layout">
@@ -203,6 +257,24 @@ export function Recom({ id }: RecomProps) {
                        <span class="rec-info-badge">enabled</span>
                      </div>
                    )}
+                    {rec.use_validator && (
+                      <div class="rec-info-row">
+                        <span class="rec-info-label">Validator</span>
+                        <span class="rec-info-badge">enabled</span>
+                      </div>
+                    )}
+                    {rec.hard_requirements && (
+                      <div class="rec-info-row">
+                        <span class="rec-info-label">Hard Req.</span>
+                        <span class="rec-info-badge">enabled</span>
+                      </div>
+                    )}
+                    {rec.self_expansive && (
+                      <div class="rec-info-row">
+                        <span class="rec-info-label">Self Expansive</span>
+                        <span class="rec-info-badge">{rec.expansive_passes} pass{rec.expansive_passes !== 1 ? 'es' : ''} · {rec.expansive_mode}</span>
+                      </div>
+                    )}
                    <div class="rec-info-row rec-info-delete-row">
                      {!isRunning && (
                        <button class="btn-rerun btn-rerank" onClick={handleRetry}>
@@ -228,7 +300,7 @@ export function Recom({ id }: RecomProps) {

          {isRunning && (
            <div class="content-area">
-              <PipelineProgress stages={stages} onRetry={handleRetry} />
+              <PipelineProgress stageGroups={stageGroups} stages={stages} onRetry={handleRetry} />
            </div>
          )}

@@ -239,6 +311,7 @@ export function Recom({ id }: RecomProps) {
                  <RecommendationCard
                    key={show.title}
                    show={show}
+                    verified={rec.use_validator}
                    existingFeedback={feedbackMap.get(show.title)}
                    onFeedback={async (name, stars, comment) => {
                      await submitFeedback({ item_name: name, stars, feedback: comment });
--- a/packages/frontend/src/types/index.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/types/index.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ export interface Recommendation {
  themes: string;
  media_type: MediaType;
  use_web_search: boolean;
+  use_validator: boolean;
+  hard_requirements: boolean;
+  self_expansive: boolean;
+  expansive_passes: number;
+  expansive_mode: 'soft' | 'extreme';
  recommendations: CuratorOutput[] | null;
  status: RecommendationStatus;
  created_at: string;
@@ -43,7 +48,18 @@ export interface FeedbackEntry {
  created_at: string;
 }

-export type PipelineStage = 'interpreter' | 'retrieval' | 'ranking' | 'curator' | 'complete';
+export type PipelineStage =
+  | 'interpreter'
+  | 'retrieval'
+  | 'validator'
+  | 'ranking'
+  | 'curator'
+  | 'complete'
+  | `pass${number}:retrieval`
+  | `pass${number}:validator`
+  | `pass${number}:ranking`
+  | `pass${number}:curator`;
+
 export type SSEStatus = 'start' | 'done' | 'error';

 export interface SSEEvent {
@@ -52,6 +68,6 @@ export interface SSEEvent {
  data?: unknown;
 }

-export type StageStatus = 'pending' | 'running' | 'done' | 'error';
+export type StageStatus = 'pending' | 'running' | 'done' | 'error' | 'skipped';

-export type StageMap = Record<Exclude<PipelineStage, 'complete'>, StageStatus>;
+export type StageMap = Record<string, StageStatus>;