Building a TV Show Organizer That Actually Remembers What You're Watching And What You Thought About It

You know that moment when someone asks what you're watching and you... blank? Or when you swear you started that critically acclaimed series everyone raved about, but you can't remember if you made it past episode three?

Yeah, that's the thing about streaming culture. We've got infinite content at our fingertips, but zero system for tracking what matters to us. Mental notes don't cut it. Screenshots of show titles feel desperate. And those generic "watchlist" features on streaming platforms? They're basically digital junk drawers.

I built Show-Hub because I was tired of losing track of my own viewing life. Not just what I watched, but what I thought about it. Where I stopped. Why I stopped. Whether that one episode everyone talks about actually lived up to the hype.

This is a case study about building something for people who treat TV shows like a real hobby—because honestly, they are.

What Show-Hub Actually Does And Why Each Feature Matters To Real Users

Here's the core idea: Show-Hub is a platform where you can organize every show you're watching, planning to watch, or have already binged into oblivion. But it goes way deeper than simple lists.

It starts with the basics:

• Secure login and signup with JWT-based authentication so your data stays yours
• Comprehensive show search that lets you find any show and dive into everything about it
• Detailed show information including posters, banners, ratings, episode counts, premiere dates, and full summaries
• Season and episode breakdowns with individual episode information
• Cast lists and external links for additional context

But here's where it gets interesting.

Lists that actually reflect how you watch TV

Everyone gets three default lists right off the bat:

• Plan to Watch for shows on your radar
• Watching for what you're currently following
• Completed for finished series

But you can also create custom lists—because maybe you need a "Comfort Rewatches" list or "Shows That Destroyed Me Emotionally" or whatever organization system makes sense to your brain.

And get this: you control visibility. Set entire lists as public or private. Set individual entries as public or private. Because sometimes you want to share your impeccable taste, and sometimes you just want to track that guilty pleasure show without judgment.

For each show in your lists, you can:

• Track your episode progress (currently on S2E7)
• Add personal ratings on your own scale
• Note start and finish dates
• Write personal notes about your experience
• Control visibility settings for each entry

It's like a journal for your viewing habits.

Reviews with actual depth and formatting options

Reading reviews is one thing. Writing them is where Show-Hub gets fun. There's a rich text editor that lets you format your thoughts properly:

• Headings to organize sections
• Quotes for memorable dialogue
• Code blocks if you're feeling technical
• Embedded images for screenshots and visual evidence
• Embedded videos and YouTube clips to reference specific scenes

And yeah, reviews can be public or private too. Sometimes you want to contribute to the conversation. Sometimes you just need to process what you watched.

Other users can like or dislike reviews, which creates this organic curation system where thoughtful takes rise to the top.

Forums that don't feel like shouting into the void

Every show has its own forum space. You can:

• Create discussion threads under different categories
• Reply to posts and other replies for real threading
• Use the same rich text editor with formatting, links, and media embeds
• Organize conversations by topic categories (episode discussions, theories, general chat)

It's designed to feel like actual conversation, not just scattered comments disappearing into an algorithm.

Finding your people through user search and profiles

User search lets you discover other viewers:

• Check out their profiles
• Browse their public lists
• Read their reviews
• See what they're watching and what they think about it

It's the social layer that most tracking apps completely miss. Because honestly, half the fun of watching great TV is finding someone else who Gets It.

The Technical Foundation And Why These Choices Made Sense For Something That Could Actually Scale

Look, I could've thrown together a basic CRUD app and called it done. But if you're building something meant to handle potentially thousands of shows, hundreds of users, nested forum replies, and rich media content... you need architecture that won't collapse under its own weight.

Frontend built with React for component flexibility

React.js handles the frontend because component-based design is perfect for something this modular. Lists, reviews, forums, show details—they're all discrete pieces that need to work independently and together.

Plus, React's state management keeps the UI responsive even when you're juggling multiple data streams simultaneously.

Backend powered by Node and Express

Node.js and Express.js power the backend. Lightweight, fast, and honestly just pleasant to work with.

Express gives you the flexibility to structure API routes however makes sense for your data model, and Node handles async operations smoothly—which matters when you're fetching show data, user data, and forum threads all at once.

MongoDB for flexible data structures

MongoDB for the database was the obvious choice here. Shows, users, lists, reviews, forums—they all have variable data structures:

• Some shows have ten seasons, some have one
• Some users have three lists, some have thirty
• Some reviews are short, some are essays with embedded media

NoSQL flexibility means I'm not fighting against rigid schemas every time the data needs to breathe.

JWT authentication and React-Quill for rich editing

JWT authentication keeps things secure without the overhead of session management. Tokens handle auth state cleanly across the frontend and backend.

React-Quill provides that rich text editing experience. I wanted users to be able to format their thoughts properly without learning markdown or HTML. WYSIWYG just makes sense for reviews and forum posts.

The TVMaze API as the comprehensive data source

All the show information—metadata, episode details, cast, ratings, everything—comes from the TVMaze API. It's:

• Comprehensive with detailed show data
• Well-maintained with regular updates
• Free for non-commercial use

Rather than scraping data or building some massive proprietary database, I could focus on the features that actually differentiate Show-Hub: the organization, the social layer, the personal tracking.

Features That Actually Change How You Interact With TV Shows On A Daily Basis

Let me walk you through the stuff that makes Show-Hub feel different from just another list app.

Show details that give you the full picture

When you search for a show, you're not getting some bare-bones title and thumbnail. You get everything:

• High-quality poster and banner images for visual appeal
• Complete metadata including ratings, total episode count, premiere date, end date (if applicable)
• Proper summaries that actually tell you what you're getting into
• Season and episode breakdowns with descriptions and individual ratings
• Top-rated episodes section so you know which ones are worth prioritizing
• Cast information with actor details
• External links to IMDb, official sites, and other resources

Then it breaks down by season and episode. You can see every single episode, read descriptions, check ratings for individual episodes. There's even a "Top-Rated Episodes" section so you know which ones are worth prioritizing if you're cherry-picking.

Cast information is right there too. Sometimes you're watching something specifically because of an actor, or you recognize someone and want to confirm where you've seen them before.

List management that adapts to how your brain works

Those three default lists (Plan to Watch, Watching, Completed) cover the basics. But custom lists are where personalization happens:

• "Shows Recommended by Friends" to track suggestions
• "Animated Series" because that's a whole different vibe
• "Canceled Too Soon" for the heartbreak collection
• Whatever organizational system makes sense to your brain

The granular visibility controls are crucial. You might want your "Watching" list public to spark conversations, but keep your "Comfort Rewatches" private because who needs judgment for watching The Office for the fifth time?

And for each entry in your lists, you're tracking:

• Episode progress (currently on S2E7)
• Personal ratings on your own scale
• Start and finish dates to remember your viewing timeline
• Personal notes about your experience

It's the difference between "yeah, I watched that" and actually remembering your relationship with a show.

Reviews that feel like real criticism with proper structure

The review system isn't just star ratings and a comment box. It's a proper writing environment.

With React-Quill's rich text editor, you can structure your thoughts like an actual essay or blog post:

• Use headings to organize sections
• Quote dialogue or memorable lines
• Embed images for screenshots of cinematography, poster comparisons, whatever visual evidence supports your point
• Embed videos or YouTube links to reference specific scenes or analyses
• Use code blocks if you want to diagram plot structure or break down story beats technically (I see you, screenwriting nerds)

The like/dislike system creates a natural quality filter:

• Thoughtful, well-argued reviews get surfaced
• Lazy hot takes sink
• It's democratic but meritocratic

And that public/private toggle? Sometimes you want to contribute to the discourse. Sometimes you just need to process your feelings about a devastating finale. Both are valid.

Forums designed for actual conversation and threading

Show-specific forums mean discussions stay focused and discoverable. If you want to talk about Better Call Saul's cinematography or debate Succession's ending, there's a dedicated space for that.

Creating forums under categories keeps things organized:

• Episode discussions
• Fan theories
• General chat
• Technical analysis
• Whatever topic needs its own space

The reply-to-reply structure allows real threading. Someone posts a theory, you respond with evidence, someone else adds a counterpoint, another person brings in context from the source material. It unfolds naturally.

Same rich text editor works here—format your posts, add emphasis, embed clips or images to make your point. It's built for depth, not just quick reactions.

The social layer nobody else bothered with

User search might seem basic, but it's surprisingly rare in tracking apps. Being able to:

• Find other users by username
• View their profiles and get a sense of their taste
• Browse their public lists to discover new shows
• Read their reviews to decide if that obscure show is worth your time

That's how communities form.

You discover someone with impeccable taste in sci-fi. You see what they're watching. You read their reviews to decide if that obscure show is worth your time. You realize you have overlapping comfort shows and suddenly you've found your people.

It's the connective tissue that transforms Show-Hub from a personal tool into a platform.

The Honest Reality Check Because This Is Still A Prototype And I'm Not Going To Pretend Otherwise

Okay, real talk. Show-Hub works. The features exist, the architecture is solid, users can actually do everything I've described. But it's a prototype, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise.

Here's what that means in practice.

Testing is minimal and needs comprehensive coverage

I've done the obvious stuff:

• ✓ Make sure auth works
• ✓ Ensure lists save properly
• ✓ Verify forum posts actually post

But comprehensive testing across edge cases? Still needed:

• ✗ Stress testing with hundreds of concurrent users
• ✗ Accessibility audits for screen readers and keyboard navigation
• ✗ Security penetration testing
• ✗ Cross-browser compatibility testing
• ✗ Mobile device testing across different screen sizes

Those are still on the roadmap.

Performance could be way better with optimization

Right now it handles typical usage fine. But I haven't:

• Optimized database queries aggressively
• Implemented caching strategies for frequently accessed data
• Fine-tuned bundle sizes to reduce initial load times
• Added lazy loading for images and components
• Integrated a CDN for media delivery

For a prototype, it's responsive enough. For a production app serving thousands of users? It needs work.

Error handling is functional but not graceful

If something breaks, it won't crash spectacularly, but the user experience of errors could be much more polished:

• Better error messages that actually explain what went wrong
• Graceful degradation when things break
• Clear recovery paths so users know what to do next
• Loading states that don't feel like the app is frozen

The UI is responsive but has room for refinement

The interface works, but there's polish missing:

• Smoother transitions between states
• Better visual feedback for user actions
• Clearer information hierarchy in some sections
• Purposeful animations that guide attention without distracting

It works, but it doesn't shine yet.

Why am I telling you this? Because I think it's important to be honest about where a project actually is. Show-Hub proves the concept. It demonstrates that this approach to TV tracking—combining organization, reviews, forums, and social discovery—actually enhances how people engage with shows.

But substantial improvements are required before it's truly production-ready. Stability needs hardening. Performance needs optimization. Features need polish. That's the nature of prototypes. They're proof of possibility, not finished products.

What I Learned Building Something People Might Actually Use In Their Daily Lives

Building Show-Hub taught me things you don't learn from tutorials or coding challenges.

Feature creep is real and seductive

I kept thinking of new capabilities:

• Maybe add streaming service integration
• Maybe build a recommendation algorithm
• Maybe create watch parties
• Maybe add subtitle search

Every idea sounded cool. But each one would've delayed actually shipping something usable. Learning to say "not yet, that's v2.0" was crucial.

Architecture decisions compound over time

The choices I made early in development had ripple effects throughout the entire project:

• Choosing MongoDB early meant flexibility later when data structures needed to evolve
• Choosing React meant component reusability that saved weeks of development
• Choosing JWT meant stateless authentication that scaled easily
• Choosing the TVMaze API meant reliable data without maintenance overhead

Those early technical choices echo through the entire project.

User experience is about removing friction not adding features

The visibility controls for lists and entries? That wasn't in the original design. But I realized people would hesitate to use lists publicly if they couldn't control what others saw.

One small feature removed a major barrier to engagement. Sometimes the best feature is the one that gets out of the way.

Rich text editing changes everything for user content

Once people could format reviews and forum posts properly, the quality of contributions jumped noticeably:

• Reviews became structured arguments instead of rambling paragraphs
• Forum posts included visual evidence to support claims
• Discussions felt more professional and thoughtful

Giving users better tools elevates the entire platform.

The social layer can't be an afterthought

User search, public profiles, visible reviews—that's not decoration. That's the difference between a personal tool and a community platform.

People want to:

• Share their taste and opinions
• Compare their viewing habits with others
• Discover new shows through trusted recommendations
• Connect with people who share their interests

Building for that from the start matters. Trying to add it later would've meant rebuilding half the architecture.

Prototypes need honesty not excuses

I could've hidden the fact that:

• Testing is incomplete
• Performance isn't optimized
• Some features are rough around the edges
• The UI needs refinement

But that would be dishonest. Acknowledging where a project actually is builds trust and sets realistic expectations. People respect transparency more than they respect false perfection.

Where This Goes Next And Why It Matters Beyond Just One App

Show-Hub as it exists now proves something important: people want more sophisticated tools for engaging with TV shows. Not just watchlists. Actual organization, actual memory, actual conversation.

The immediate priorities are clear.

Testing needs to be comprehensive and thorough

Unit tests for critical functionality:

• Authentication flows
• List creation and modification
• Review submission and editing
• Forum post creation and replies

Integration tests for user flows:

• Complete signup to first review journey
• Search to list addition workflow
• Forum creation to discussion participation

Performance testing under load:

• Database query performance with thousands of records
• Concurrent user handling
• API response times under stress

Security audits:

• JWT token handling
• Input sanitization
• SQL injection prevention (even with NoSQL)
• XSS vulnerability checks

Accessibility compliance:

• Screen reader compatibility
• Keyboard navigation
• Color contrast ratios
• Focus indicators

The unsexy stuff that makes software reliable.

Performance optimization can't wait much longer

Database query optimization:

• Index frequently queried fields
• Optimize join operations
• Implement query result caching

Caching strategies for frequently accessed data:

• Show metadata that rarely changes
• User profile information
• Popular forum threads

Frontend bundle size reduction:

• Code splitting by route
• Tree shaking unused dependencies
• Minification and compression

Lazy loading for images and components:

• Load show posters on demand
• Defer non-critical JavaScript
• Progressive image loading

CDN integration for media:

• Distribute static assets globally
• Reduce server load
• Improve load times worldwide

Every millisecond of perceived speed matters.

Error handling needs to be user friendly

Better error messages:

• Clear explanation of what went wrong
• No technical jargon
• Helpful context about why it matters

Graceful degradation when things break:

• Show cached data when API fails
• Allow offline list viewing
• Queue actions for when connection returns

Clear recovery paths:

• "Try again" buttons that actually work
• Alternative actions when primary fails
• Contact support options for persistent issues

Loading states that don't feel like the app is frozen:

• Skeleton screens for content loading
• Progress indicators for long operations
• Optimistic UI updates for instant feedback

UI refinement to make interactions feel effortless

Smoother transitions:

• Fade animations between views
• Slide transitions for modals
• Micro-interactions for buttons and links

Better visual feedback:

• Hover states that feel responsive
• Active states that show engagement
• Success confirmations that feel rewarding

Clearer information hierarchy:

• Better use of typography scale
• Strategic use of color for emphasis
• Whitespace that guides the eye

Purposeful animations that guide attention:

• Draw focus to important actions
• Show relationships between elements
• Provide feedback without distraction

But beyond the technical improvements, there's something bigger here. Show-Hub could be a template for how we organize and engage with any serialized content:

• Podcasts with episode tracking and discussion forums
• Book series with reading progress and chapter notes
• Comics with issue tracking and character wikis
• YouTube channels with video organization and creator communities

The architecture adapts. The features translate. The social layer still matters.

Right now, streaming services own our viewing data. They use it to sell us more content, not to help us remember our relationship with what we've already watched.

Show-Hub flips that dynamic:

• Your data stays yours
• Your notes, ratings, organization—for you, not an algorithm
• Your viewing history serves your memory, not engagement metrics
• Your community connections are genuine, not algorithmically manufactured

That feels important. Like it's worth building properly.

Try It Yourself With Realistic Expectations And An Open Mind About What's Possible

The live demo is available if you want to poke around and see what I've built. Fair warning: it's a prototype, so don't expect perfection. But it's functional, and it demonstrates the concept clearly.

You can:

• Create an account and set up your profile
• Search for shows using the TVMaze database
• Build lists with custom organization
• Write reviews with rich text formatting
• Participate in forums with threaded discussions
• Find other users and explore their public content

Experience the features firsthand. See where it works well and where it needs improvement.

For developers

The code is probably useful reference material:

• It's not production-ready, but the architecture is sound
• The implementation choices are defensible
• The structure demonstrates scalable patterns
• The component organization shows React best practices

You might learn something. I definitely learned a ton building it.

For TV enthusiasts

If you're just someone who watches a lot of TV and wishes you had a better system for tracking it all... well, this might be exactly what you've been looking for. Even in its current state.

Just remember:

• Prototype phase – expect some rough edges
• Core features work – you can use it today
• Substantial improvements coming – it'll get better
• Foundation is solid – the vision is clear

That's where Show-Hub is right now. A proof of concept that's functional enough to use, promising enough to develop further, and honest enough to admit what still needs work. Check it out. Let me know what you think. And maybe finally remember what episode you're actually on.