diff --git a/.codex/skills/stalker-portal/SKILL.md b/.codex/skills/stalker-portal/SKILL.md
index 1976a934d..d59fa7a20 100644
--- a/.codex/skills/stalker-portal/SKILL.md
+++ b/.codex/skills/stalker-portal/SKILL.md
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ Do not stop after making the detail view render.
    `series`.
 4. Before either inline or external episode playback, persist the parent
    `seriesXtreamId` plus resolved `seasonNumber` and `episodeNumber`. Keep
-   generated episode tracking IDs stable for lazy `is_series` episodes.
+   generated episode tracking IDs stable for lazy `is_series` episodes. When
+   `season_number` is absent, derive the coordinate from the same naturally
+   ordered season list used by quick start; do not default every season to 1.
 5. The dashboard reads saved playback positions; it must not infer episode
    numbers from provider payloads. Legacy rows without season/episode metadata
    remain badge-less until that episode is played again.
diff --git a/docs/architecture/stalker-portal.md b/docs/architecture/stalker-portal.md
index e2dfb6502..931a54610 100644
--- a/docs/architecture/stalker-portal.md
+++ b/docs/architecture/stalker-portal.md
@@ -205,6 +205,9 @@ Series inline playback behavior is shared across all three modes:
   metadata for workspace surfaces to render an episode badge. Existing rows
   without those fields are intentionally not migrated and remain badge-less
   until the episode is played again.
+- Ministra payloads may omit `season_number`. Episode mapping and lazy
+  quick-start labels share the same naturally ordered season fallback so later
+  seasons are not persisted as season 1.
 
 The VOD-series contract is cross-surface:
 
diff --git a/libs/portal/stalker/data-access/src/lib/stalker-series.adapters.spec.ts b/libs/portal/stalker/data-access/src/lib/stalker-series.adapters.spec.ts
index 80c6d85b4..6a65d44c6 100644
--- a/libs/portal/stalker/data-access/src/lib/stalker-series.adapters.spec.ts
+++ b/libs/portal/stalker/data-access/src/lib/stalker-series.adapters.spec.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,44 @@ describe('stalker-series.adapters', () => {
         expect(firstEpisode.id).not.toBe(mapped['1'][1].id);
     });
 
+    it('derives missing VOD-series season numbers from natural season order', () => {
+        const mapped = mapVodSeriesEpisodes([
+            {
+                id: 'season-2',
+                video_id: 'v1',
+                name: 'Season 2',
+                season_number: '',
+                episodes: [
+                    {
+                        id: 'episode-2',
+                        series_number: 1,
+                        name: 'Second season pilot',
+                    },
+                ],
+                isLoading: false,
+                isExpanded: false,
+            },
+            {
+                id: 'season-1',
+                video_id: 'v1',
+                name: 'Season 1',
+                season_number: '',
+                episodes: [
+                    {
+                        id: 'episode-1',
+                        series_number: 1,
+                        name: 'Pilot',
+                    },
+                ],
+                isLoading: false,
+                isExpanded: false,
+            },
+        ]);
+
+        expect(mapped['Season 1'][0].season).toBe(1);
+        expect(mapped['Season 2'][0].season).toBe(2);
+    });
+
     it('maps embedded series payload into regular season episodes', () => {
         const regularSeasons = mapRegularSeriesSeasons(
             {
diff --git a/libs/portal/stalker/data-access/src/lib/stalker-series.adapters.ts b/libs/portal/stalker/data-access/src/lib/stalker-series.adapters.ts
index 7a94a40bf..23bd5e1fc 100644
--- a/libs/portal/stalker/data-access/src/lib/stalker-series.adapters.ts
+++ b/libs/portal/stalker/data-access/src/lib/stalker-series.adapters.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ import {
 } from './models';
 import { isStalkerSeriesFlag } from './stalker-vod.utils';
 
+const naturalSeasonCollator = new Intl.Collator(undefined, {
+    numeric: true,
+    sensitivity: 'base',
+});
+
 export interface VodSeriesSeasonVm {
     id: string;
     video_id: string;
@@ -154,7 +159,7 @@ export function mapVodSeriesEpisodes(
 
     seasons.forEach((season) => {
         const seasonKey = season.season_number || season.name || season.id;
-        const seasonNum = toEpisodeNumber(seasonKey) || 1;
+        const seasonNum = getVodSeriesSeasonNumber(season, seasons);
 
         mapped[seasonKey] = (season.episodes ?? []).map((episode) => {
             const episodeNum =
@@ -230,3 +235,24 @@ export function mapRegularSeriesEpisodes(
 export function getVodSeriesSeasonKey(season: VodSeriesSeasonVm): string {
     return season.season_number || season.name || season.id;
 }
+
+export function getVodSeriesSeasonNumber(
+    season: VodSeriesSeasonVm,
+    seasons: ReadonlyArray<VodSeriesSeasonVm>
+): number {
+    const parsedSeasonNumber = Number(season.season_number);
+    if (Number.isInteger(parsedSeasonNumber) && parsedSeasonNumber > 0) {
+        return parsedSeasonNumber;
+    }
+
+    const orderedSeasons = [...seasons].sort((seasonA, seasonB) =>
+        naturalSeasonCollator.compare(
+            getVodSeriesSeasonKey(seasonA),
+            getVodSeriesSeasonKey(seasonB)
+        )
+    );
+    const seasonIndex = orderedSeasons.findIndex(
+        (candidate) => candidate.id === season.id
+    );
+    return seasonIndex >= 0 ? seasonIndex + 1 : 1;
+}
diff --git a/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-series-view/stalker-series-quick-start.ts b/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-series-view/stalker-series-quick-start.ts
index 1d61c63e1..b9f9f2913 100644
--- a/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-series-view/stalker-series-quick-start.ts
+++ b/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-series-view/stalker-series-quick-start.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
 } from '@iptvnator/portal/shared/util';
 import {
     getVodSeriesSeasonKey,
+    getVodSeriesSeasonNumber,
     type VodSeriesSeasonVm,
 } from '@iptvnator/portal/stalker/data-access';
 import type {
@@ -160,16 +161,8 @@ function getLazyVodSeriesEpisodeLabel(
     season: VodSeriesSeasonVm,
     seasons: ReadonlyArray<VodSeriesSeasonVm>
 ): string {
-    const seasonIndex = seasons.findIndex((item) => item.id === season.id);
-    const parsedSeasonNumber = Number(season.season_number);
-    const seasonNumber =
-        Number.isInteger(parsedSeasonNumber) && parsedSeasonNumber > 0
-            ? parsedSeasonNumber
-            : getFallbackSeasonNumber(seasonIndex);
-
-    return formatSeriesEpisodeCode(seasonNumber, 1);
-}
-
-function getFallbackSeasonNumber(seasonIndex: number): number {
-    return seasonIndex >= 0 ? seasonIndex + 1 : 1;
+    return formatSeriesEpisodeCode(
+        getVodSeriesSeasonNumber(season, seasons),
+        1
+    );
 }