diff --git a/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.spec.ts b/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.spec.ts
index 8d7814c0b..cc739c248 100644
--- a/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.spec.ts
+++ b/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.spec.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ function session(
     } as ExternalPlayerSession;
 }
 
+/** Lets the launch chain's microtasks run up to the player call. */
+const flush = () => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve));
+
 describe('openEpisodeExternally', () => {
     function host(active: ExternalPlayerSession | null) {
         const openExternalPlayback = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
@@ -100,12 +103,47 @@ describe('openEpisodeExternally', () => {
         );
         const first = openEpisodeExternally(t.host, PLAYBACK, 'mpv');
         await openEpisodeExternally(t.host, PLAYBACK, 'mpv');
+        await flush();
+        expect(t.openExternalPlayback).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
         settleLaunch();
         await first;
 
         expect(t.openExternalPlayback).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     });
 
+    it('queues another episode behind the first launch instead of dropping it', async () => {
+        const t = host(null);
+        let settleLaunch: () => void = () => undefined;
+        t.openExternalPlayback.mockImplementationOnce(
+            () => new Promise<void>((resolve) => (settleLaunch = resolve))
+        );
+        const first = openEpisodeExternally(t.host, PLAYBACK, 'mpv');
+        const second = openEpisodeExternally(
+            t.host,
+            {
+                ...PLAYBACK,
+                streamUrl: 'http://xtream.example/series/1003.mp4',
+                contentInfo: {
+                    ...PLAYBACK.contentInfo!,
+                    contentXtreamId: 1003,
+                },
+            },
+            'mpv'
+        );
+        await flush();
+        expect(t.openExternalPlayback).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+        settleLaunch();
+        await first;
+        await second;
+        expect(t.openExternalPlayback).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+        expect(t.openExternalPlayback.mock.calls[1][0]).toEqual(
+            expect.objectContaining({
+                streamUrl: 'http://xtream.example/series/1003.mp4',
+            })
+        );
+    });
+
     it('keeps the running player when closing it fails', async () => {
         const t = host(session());
         t.closeSession.mockRejectedValue(new Error('still busy'));
diff --git a/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.ts b/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.ts
index c6a664208..12faf5274 100644
--- a/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.ts
+++ b/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.ts
@@ -20,16 +20,20 @@ export interface SeriesExternalLaunchHost {
     launchOwner(): string | null;
 }
 
-/** Owners (`playlist:series`) whose launch has not settled yet. */
+/** `owner:episode` keys of launches that have not settled yet. */
 const launchesInFlight = new Set<string>();
+/** Per owner, the tail of its launch chain: a second episode waits its turn. */
+const launchChains = new Map<string, Promise<unknown>>();
 
 /**
  * The "…" menu's MPV/VLC launch of an episode. An episode of this series
  * still running externally is closed first: with instance reuse off a
  * second detached player would start beside it. When that close fails, or
  * the user moved on while it ran, the running player stays and nothing new
- * launches. A repeat before the first launch settled (Electron publishes
- * the session only afterwards) is ignored.
+ * launches. A repeat of the same episode before its launch settled
+ * (Electron publishes the session only afterwards) is ignored; another
+ * episode of the series waits for that launch to settle and then replaces
+ * it like any later start.
  */
 export async function openEpisodeExternally(
     host: SeriesExternalLaunchHost,
@@ -37,14 +41,27 @@ export async function openEpisodeExternally(
     player: ExternalPlayerName
 ): Promise<ExternalPlayerSession | void> {
     const owner = host.launchOwner();
-    if (!owner || launchesInFlight.has(owner)) {
+    if (!owner) {
         return;
     }
-    launchesInFlight.add(owner);
+    const key = `${owner}:${playback.contentInfo?.contentXtreamId ?? playback.streamUrl}`;
+    if (launchesInFlight.has(key)) {
+        return;
+    }
+    launchesInFlight.add(key);
+    const previous = launchChains.get(owner) ?? Promise.resolve();
+    const run = previous.then(() =>
+        launchEpisode(host, owner, playback, player)
+    );
+    const tail = run.catch(() => undefined);
+    launchChains.set(owner, tail);
     try {
-        return await launchEpisode(host, owner, playback, player);
+        return await run;
     } finally {
-        launchesInFlight.delete(owner);
+        launchesInFlight.delete(key);
+        if (launchChains.get(owner) === tail) {
+            launchChains.delete(owner);
+        }
     }
 }