diff --git a/lib/ranking.ts b/lib/ranking.ts
index f2cc4aac..f2a9f434 100644
--- a/lib/ranking.ts
+++ b/lib/ranking.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { get24hPriceChange, getTokenTVL } from "./price";
 import { STORY_FACTORY } from "./contracts/constants";
 import type { Database, Storyline, User } from "./supabase";
 import type { SupabaseClient } from "@supabase/supabase-js";
+import { getStoryStatus } from "./story-status";
 
 interface RankedStoryline extends Storyline {
   trendScore: number;
@@ -130,7 +131,6 @@ async function fetchCandidatesAndRatings(
   function applyBase(q: ReturnType<typeof supabase.from>) {
     let filtered = q
       .eq("hidden", false)
-      .eq("sunset", false)
       .neq("token_address", "")
       .eq("contract_address", STORY_FACTORY.toLowerCase());
     if (writerType !== undefined) filtered = filtered.eq("writer_type", writerType);
@@ -272,7 +272,13 @@ export async function getTrendingStorylines(
     }),
   );
 
-  enriched.sort((a, b) => b.trendScore - a.trendScore);
+  // Active-first: active stories rank above completed/expired, then by trendScore
+  enriched.sort((a, b) => {
+    const aActive = getStoryStatus(a) === "active" ? 0 : 1;
+    const bActive = getStoryStatus(b) === "active" ? 0 : 1;
+    if (aActive !== bActive) return aActive - bActive;
+    return b.trendScore - a.trendScore;
+  });
   return enriched.slice(offset, offset + limit);
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/story-status.ts b/lib/story-status.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8cf6af81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/story-status.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import type { Storyline } from "./supabase";
+
+/** Deadline window in hours — stories expire this long after their last plot. */
+export const DEADLINE_HOURS = 168;
+export const DEADLINE_MS = DEADLINE_HOURS * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+
+export type StoryStatus = "active" | "completed" | "expired";
+
+/** Determine whether a story is active, completed, or expired. */
+export function getStoryStatus(storyline: Pick<Storyline, "sunset" | "has_deadline" | "last_plot_time">): StoryStatus {
+  if (storyline.sunset) return "completed";
+  if (storyline.has_deadline && storyline.last_plot_time) {
+    const deadline = new Date(storyline.last_plot_time).getTime() + DEADLINE_MS;
+    if (Date.now() > deadline) return "expired";
+  }
+  return "active";
+}
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 9a15534c..5def62a9 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "plotlink",
-  "version": "0.1.47",
+  "version": "0.1.48",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "plotlink",
-      "version": "0.1.47",
+      "version": "0.1.48",
       "workspaces": [
         "packages/*"
       ],
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b01272bc..24c88500 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "plotlink",
-  "version": "0.1.47",
+  "version": "0.1.48",
   "private": true,
   "workspaces": [
     "packages/*"
diff --git a/src/components/DeadlineCountdown.tsx b/src/components/DeadlineCountdown.tsx
index dcd93a18..8b10cdf2 100644
--- a/src/components/DeadlineCountdown.tsx
+++ b/src/components/DeadlineCountdown.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { useState, useEffect } from "react";
+import { DEADLINE_HOURS, DEADLINE_MS } from "../../lib/story-status";
 
-export const DEADLINE_HOURS = 168;
-export const DEADLINE_MS = DEADLINE_HOURS * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+export { DEADLINE_HOURS, DEADLINE_MS };
 
 export function DeadlineCountdown({
   lastPlotTime,
diff --git a/src/components/StoryCard.tsx b/src/components/StoryCard.tsx
index e9ae5f99..8e5fdf85 100644
--- a/src/components/StoryCard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/StoryCard.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { AgentBadge } from "./AgentBadge";
 import { WriterIdentityClient } from "./WriterIdentityClient";
 import { RatingSummary } from "./RatingSummary";
 import { StoryCardTVL } from "./StoryCardStats";
+import { getStoryStatus } from "../../lib/story-status";
 
 const DAY_MS = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
 function isWithin24h(timestamp: string): boolean {
@@ -21,9 +22,11 @@ export function StoryCard({
   const isNew = storyline.last_plot_time
     ? isWithin24h(storyline.last_plot_time)
     : false;
+  const status = getStoryStatus(storyline);
+  const isActive = status === "active";
 
   return (
-    <div className="flex flex-col">
+    <div className={`flex flex-col${!isActive ? " opacity-60" : ""}`}>
       <Link
         href={`/story/${storyline.storyline_id}`}
         className="moleskine-notebook group relative block"
@@ -55,7 +58,7 @@ export function StoryCard({
 
         {/* Cover — opens on hover (desktop) */}
         <div
-          className="notebook-cover relative z-10 flex aspect-[2/3] flex-col overflow-hidden border border-[var(--border)]"
+          className={`notebook-cover relative z-10 flex aspect-[2/3] flex-col overflow-hidden ${isActive ? "border-2 border-[var(--accent)]" : "border border-[var(--border)]"}`}
           style={{
             borderRadius: "5px 15px 15px 5px",
             backgroundColor: "#F5EFE6",
@@ -77,11 +80,6 @@ export function StoryCard({
               <span className="rounded-sm bg-[var(--accent)]/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-[9px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-widest text-[var(--accent)]">
                 {displayGenre || "Uncategorized"}
               </span>
-              {storyline.sunset && (
-                <span className="rounded-sm border border-[var(--border)] px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[9px] text-[var(--text-muted)]">
-                  complete
-                </span>
-              )}
             </div>
           </div>
 
@@ -97,9 +95,20 @@ export function StoryCard({
             )}
           </div>
 
-          {/* Bottom: plot count + NEW badges */}
+          {/* Bottom: status + plot count + NEW badges */}
           <div className="relative z-10 px-4 py-3">
             <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5">
+              {isActive ? (
+                <span className="rounded-sm bg-[var(--accent)]/10 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[9px] font-semibold text-[var(--accent)]">
+                  Active
+                </span>
+              ) : (
+                <span className="rounded-sm border border-[var(--border)] px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[9px] text-[var(--text-muted)]">
+                  {status === "expired" ? "Expired" : "Completed"}
+                </span>
+              )}
+            </div>
+            <div className="mt-1 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5">
               <span className="rounded-sm border border-[var(--border)] px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[9px] text-[var(--text-muted)]">
                 {storyline.plot_count} {storyline.plot_count === 1 ? "plot" : "plots"}
               </span>