diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 91b3844..966bb1e 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -76,4 +76,5 @@ bottomnav.md
 mmkv.md
 src/services/tmdbService.ts
 fix-android-scroll-lag-summary.md
-server/cache-server
\ No newline at end of file
+server/cache-server
+carousal.md
diff --git a/src/components/home/FeaturedContent.tsx b/src/components/home/FeaturedContent.tsx
index 4f5ffc7..7030211 100644
--- a/src/components/home/FeaturedContent.tsx
+++ b/src/components/home/FeaturedContent.tsx
@@ -668,7 +668,11 @@ const FeaturedContent = ({ featuredContent, isSaved, handleSaveToLibrary, loadin
 
   // Render item function for the carousel
   const renderItem = useCallback(({ item }: { item: StreamingContent }) => {
-    return <CarouselItemWrapper item={item} />;
+    return (
+      <View style={{ paddingHorizontal: 6 }}>
+        <CarouselItemWrapper item={item} />
+      </View>
+    );
   }, [isSaved, handleSaveToLibrary, navigation]);
 
   // Pagination press handler
@@ -711,7 +715,7 @@ const FeaturedContent = ({ featuredContent, isSaved, handleSaveToLibrary, loadin
         snapEnabled={true}
         pagingEnabled={true}
         autoPlay={items.length > 1}
-        autoPlayInterval={4000}
+        autoPlayInterval={10000}
         data={items}
         defaultScrollOffsetValue={scrollOffsetValue}
         onProgressChange={progress}
@@ -732,17 +736,6 @@ const FeaturedContent = ({ featuredContent, isSaved, handleSaveToLibrary, loadin
         renderItem={renderItem}
       />
 
-      {/* Bottom fade to blend with background */}
-      <LinearGradient
-        colors={[
-          'transparent',
-          currentTheme.colors.darkBackground
-        ]}
-        locations={[0, 1]}
-        style={isTablet ? styles.tabletBottomFade as ViewStyle : styles.phoneBottomFade as ViewStyle}
-        pointerEvents="none"
-      />
-
     </Animated.View>
     {/* Pagination strictly below the hero container (not clipped by overflow) */}
     {items.length > 1 && (
@@ -751,6 +744,8 @@ const FeaturedContent = ({ featuredContent, isSaved, handleSaveToLibrary, loadin
           alignItems: 'center',
           paddingTop: isTablet ? 10 : 8,
           paddingBottom: isTablet ? 10 : 8,
+          position: 'relative',
+          zIndex: 1,
         }}
         pointerEvents="auto"
       >
diff --git a/src/screens/HomeScreen.tsx b/src/screens/HomeScreen.tsx
index 75e56a7..dff0c61 100644
--- a/src/screens/HomeScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/HomeScreen.tsx
@@ -635,12 +635,26 @@ const HomeScreen = () => {
         loading={featuredLoading}
       />
     ) : (
-      <FeaturedContent
-        featuredContent={allFeaturedContent || (featuredContent ? [featuredContent] : [])}
-        isSaved={isItemSaved}
-        handleSaveToLibrary={handleSaveToLibrary}
-        loading={featuredLoading}
-      />
+      <>
+        <FeaturedContent
+          featuredContent={allFeaturedContent || (featuredContent ? [featuredContent] : [])}
+          isSaved={isItemSaved}
+          handleSaveToLibrary={handleSaveToLibrary}
+          loading={featuredLoading}
+        />
+        <LinearGradient
+          colors={["transparent", currentTheme.colors.darkBackground]}
+          locations={[0, 1]}
+          style={{
+            height: isTablet ? 40 : 30,
+            width: '100%',
+            marginTop: -(isTablet ? 40 : 30),
+            position: 'relative',
+            zIndex: -1,
+          }}
+          pointerEvents="none"
+        />
+      </>
     );
   }, [isTablet, settings.heroStyle, showHeroSection, featuredContentSource, allFeaturedContent, featuredContent, isItemSaved, handleSaveToLibrary, featuredLoading]);