diff --git a/packages/web/src/Replay.svelte b/packages/web/src/Replay.svelte
index b2d7787..e973830 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/Replay.svelte
+++ b/packages/web/src/Replay.svelte
@@ -294,14 +294,39 @@
         aimed = true;
       }
     }
-    if (!aimed && castRay(v, tx, ty, targetFacing).dist < 0.8) {
-      // Nothing aims the eyes and they'd idle nose-to-brick (the opening
-      // cut, or a beat after pacing into a dead end): face the deepest
-      // corridor from where the wizard stands instead.
-      let deepest = -1;
-      for (const a of [0, Math.PI / 2, Math.PI, -Math.PI / 2]) {
-        const h = castRay(v, tx, ty, a);
-        if (h.dist > deepest) { deepest = h.dist; targetFacing = a; }
+    if (!aimed) {
+      // Nothing aims the eyes. If they'd idle nose-to-brick (the opening
+      // cut, a dead-end beat — or the reel's CLOSING shot, which gets a
+      // higher standard), find a better view: the deepest corridor, and
+      // on the final frame, preferably one with something in it.
+      const viewScore = (a: number): number => {
+        let score = Math.min(castRay(v, tx, ty, a).dist, 8);
+        if (!atEnd) return score;
+        const bonus = (cell: { x: number; y: number }, worth: number) => {
+          const bx = cell.x + 0.5, by = cell.y + 0.5;
+          const bearing = Math.atan2(by - ty, bx - tx);
+          if (Math.abs(shortestArc(a, bearing)) > 0.55) return 0;
+          const d = Math.hypot(bx - tx, by - ty);
+          if (d < 0.1) return 0;
+          const sight = castRay(v, tx, ty, bearing);
+          return !sight.warped && sight.dist >= d - 0.4 ? worth / (1 + d * 0.3) : 0;
+        };
+        for (const p of v.players) if (p.alive && p.id !== povId) score += bonus(p.position, 6);
+        for (const c of v.creatures) score += bonus(c.position, 5);
+        for (const t of v.treasures) if (t.position && !t.carriedBy) score += bonus(t.position, 3);
+        return score;
+      };
+      const staring = castRay(v, tx, ty, targetFacing).dist < (atEnd ? 1.2 : 0.8);
+      if (staring) {
+        const current = viewScore(targetFacing);
+        let bestA = targetFacing, bestScore = current;
+        for (const a of [0, Math.PI / 2, Math.PI, -Math.PI / 2]) {
+          const sc = viewScore(a);
+          if (sc > bestScore + 0.5) { bestScore = sc; bestA = a; }
+        }
+        // One evaluation, one turn — a wizard walled in on all sides
+        // keeps whatever view it has rather than hunting forever.
+        targetFacing = bestA;
       }
     }
     if (!camReady || (dist > 1.6 && !hurled)) {