diff --git a/sojorn_app/lib/screens/post/threaded_conversation_screen.dart b/sojorn_app/lib/screens/post/threaded_conversation_screen.dart
index 0c0f946..47e6745 100644
--- a/sojorn_app/lib/screens/post/threaded_conversation_screen.dart
+++ b/sojorn_app/lib/screens/post/threaded_conversation_screen.dart
@@ -205,7 +205,6 @@ class _ThreadedConversationScreenState extends ConsumerState<ThreadedConversatio
             children: [
               if (_focusContext!.parentPost != null) ...[
                 _buildAnchorZone(_focusContext!.parentPost!),
-                const SizedBox(height: 16),
               ],
 
               // Zone B: The Stage (Current Focal Post)
@@ -316,29 +315,38 @@ class _ThreadedConversationScreenState extends ConsumerState<ThreadedConversatio
     return SlideTransition(
       position: _slideAnimation,
       child: Container(
-        margin: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(horizontal: 16),
-        decoration: BoxDecoration(
-          color: AppTheme.cardSurface,
-          borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(18),
-          border: Border.all(
-            color: AppTheme.navyBlue.withValues(alpha: 0.18),
-            width: 2,
-          ),
-          boxShadow: [
-            BoxShadow(
-              color: AppTheme.navyBlue.withValues(alpha: 0.08),
-              blurRadius: 14,
-              offset: const Offset(0, 6),
+        margin: const EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(16, 0, 16, 0),
+        child: GestureDetector(
+          onTap: () => _navigateToPost(parentPost.id),
+          child: Container(
+            width: double.infinity,
+            decoration: BoxDecoration(
+              // Rounded top corners, flat bottom
+              borderRadius: const BorderRadius.only(
+                topLeft: Radius.circular(20),
+                topRight: Radius.circular(20),
+              ),
+              // Gradient from darker top to lighter bottom
+              gradient: LinearGradient(
+                begin: Alignment.topCenter,
+                end: Alignment.bottomCenter,
+                colors: [
+                  AppTheme.navyBlue.withValues(alpha: 0.25),  // Darker at top
+                  AppTheme.navyBlue.withValues(alpha: 0.12),  // Lighter at bottom
+                  Colors.transparent,                         // Fade to transparent
+                ],
+                stops: const [0.0, 0.6, 1.0],
+              ),
+              // Subtle border at the top
+              border: Border(
+                top: BorderSide(
+                  color: AppTheme.brightNavy.withValues(alpha: 0.5),
+                  width: 2,
+                ),
+              ),
             ),
-          ],
-        ),
-        child: Material(
-          color: Colors.transparent,
-          child: InkWell(
-            onTap: () => _navigateToPost(parentPost.id),
-            borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(18),
-            child: Padding(
-              padding: const EdgeInsets.all(14),
+            child: Container(
+              padding: const EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(16, 16, 16, 12),
               child: Row(
                 children: [
                   _buildCompactAvatar(parentPost),
@@ -348,22 +356,33 @@ class _ThreadedConversationScreenState extends ConsumerState<ThreadedConversatio
                       crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
                       children: [
                         Text(
-                          parentPost.author?.displayName ?? 'Anonymous',
+                          'Previous chain',
                           style: GoogleFonts.inter(
-                            color: AppTheme.navyBlue.withValues(alpha: 0.9),
-                            fontSize: 13,
-                            fontWeight: FontWeight.w600,
+                            color: AppTheme.textSecondary.withValues(alpha: 0.9),
+                            fontSize: 10,
+                            fontWeight: FontWeight.w700,
+                            letterSpacing: 0.6,
                           ),
                         ),
                         const SizedBox(height: 4),
+                        Text(
+                          parentPost.author?.displayName ?? 'Anonymous',
+                          style: GoogleFonts.inter(
+                            color: AppTheme.navyBlue.withValues(alpha: 0.95),
+                            fontSize: 13,
+                            fontWeight: FontWeight.w700,
+                          ),
+                        ),
+                        const SizedBox(height: 3),
                         Text(
                           parentPost.body,
                           maxLines: 2,
                           overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
                           style: GoogleFonts.inter(
-                            color: AppTheme.navyText.withValues(alpha: 0.72),
+                            color: AppTheme.navyText.withValues(alpha: 0.8),
                             fontSize: 12,
-                            height: 1.35,
+                            height: 1.3,
+                            fontWeight: FontWeight.w500,
                           ),
                         ),
                       ],
@@ -371,10 +390,10 @@ class _ThreadedConversationScreenState extends ConsumerState<ThreadedConversatio
                   ),
                   const SizedBox(width: 8),
                   Container(
-                    padding: const EdgeInsets.all(6),
+                    padding: const EdgeInsets.all(8),
                     decoration: BoxDecoration(
-                      color: AppTheme.brightNavy.withValues(alpha: 0.12),
-                      borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(12),
+                      color: AppTheme.brightNavy.withValues(alpha: 0.15),
+                      borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(10),
                     ),
                     child: Icon(
                       Icons.arrow_upward,
@@ -387,8 +406,8 @@ class _ThreadedConversationScreenState extends ConsumerState<ThreadedConversatio
             ),
           ),
         ),
-      ),
-    ).animate().slideY(begin: -0.08, end: 0, duration: 220.ms);
+      ).animate().slideY(begin: -0.08, end: 0, duration: 220.ms),
+    );
   }
 
   Widget _buildStageZone(Post focalPost) {
@@ -397,7 +416,7 @@ class _ThreadedConversationScreenState extends ConsumerState<ThreadedConversatio
       child: FadeTransition(
         opacity: _fadeAnimation,
         child: Container(
-          margin: const EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(16, 8, 16, 0),
+          margin: const EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(16, 0, 16, 0),
           decoration: BoxDecoration(
             color: AppTheme.cardSurface,
             borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(26),