diff --git a/resources/js/candidate-room.js b/resources/js/candidate-room.js
index 6a89667..39e93d5 100644
--- a/resources/js/candidate-room.js
+++ b/resources/js/candidate-room.js
@@ -602,14 +602,18 @@ export function getCandidatePeerId() {
         : ('cand_' + interviewId);
 }
 
-export async function initCandidatePeer() {
+export async function initCandidatePeer(force = false) {
     const interviewId = document.body.dataset.interviewId;
     const candName = document.body.dataset.candidateName || 'Candidate';
     if (!interviewId || typeof window.Peer === 'undefined') return;
 
+    if (!force && candidatePeerInstance && !candidatePeerInstance.destroyed && candidatePeerInstance.open) {
+        return candidatePeerInstance;
+    }
+
     const iceServers = await initMeteredIceServers();
     const peerId = getCandidatePeerId();
-    if (candidatePeerInstance) {
+    if (candidatePeerInstance && !candidatePeerInstance.destroyed) {
         try { candidatePeerInstance.destroy(); } catch(e) {}
     }
 
@@ -750,7 +754,18 @@ export function sendCandidatePeerHeartbeat(action = 'heartbeat') {
                     const isMicOn = isTrueVal(p.mic_on);
                     const isCamOn = isTrueVal(p.cam_on);
 
-                    addOrUpdateCandidateInterviewerTile(p.peer_id, existingStream, nameLabel, isMicOn, isCamOn);
+                    if (!existingStream && candidateLocalStream && candidatePeerInstance && candidatePeerInstance.open && !p.peer_id.startsWith('cand_')) {
+                        try {
+                            const outCall = candidatePeerInstance.call(p.peer_id, candidateLocalStream);
+                            if (outCall) {
+                                outCall.on('stream', remoteStream => {
+                                    addOrUpdateCandidateInterviewerTile(p.peer_id, remoteStream, nameLabel, isMicOn, isCamOn);
+                                });
+                            }
+                        } catch(e) {}
+                    } else {
+                        addOrUpdateCandidateInterviewerTile(p.peer_id, existingStream, nameLabel, isMicOn, isCamOn);
+                    }
                 }
             });
         }
diff --git a/resources/js/interview-call.js b/resources/js/interview-call.js
index 933d490..c16b00b 100644
--- a/resources/js/interview-call.js
+++ b/resources/js/interview-call.js
@@ -781,7 +781,20 @@ export function pollReviewData() {
                         const isMicOn = isTrueVal(p.mic_on);
                         const isCamOn = isTrueVal(p.cam_on);
 
-                        if (p.peer_id.startsWith('interviewer_')) {
+                        const isCandPeer = p.role === 'candidate' || (p.peer_id && (p.peer_id === candPeerId || (p.peer_id.startsWith('cand_') && !p.peer_id.startsWith('cand_screen_'))));
+                        if (isCandPeer) {
+                            if (interviewerLocalStream && interviewerPeer && interviewerPeer.open && !candidateStreamConnected) {
+                                try {
+                                    const outCall = interviewerPeer.call(p.peer_id, interviewerLocalStream);
+                                    if (outCall) {
+                                        outCall.on('stream', remoteStream => {
+                                            if (candVid) safePlayMediaStream(candVid, remoteStream);
+                                            updateCandidateStatusIcons(isMicOn, isCamOn, true);
+                                        });
+                                    }
+                                } catch(e) {}
+                            }
+                        } else if (p.peer_id.startsWith('interviewer_')) {
                             if (interviewerLocalStream && interviewerPeer && interviewerPeer.open) {
                                 if (!panelistMeshTiles.has(p.peer_id)) {
                                     try {
@@ -1321,6 +1334,17 @@ export function safePlayMediaStream(videoElem, stream, isSelf = false) {
                 videoElem.onloadedmetadata = () => {
                     videoElem.play().catch(() => {});
                 };
+                if (!isSelf) {
+                    videoElem.muted = true;
+                    videoElem.play().catch(() => {});
+                    const unmuteHandler = () => {
+                        videoElem.muted = false;
+                        videoElem.play().catch(() => {});
+                    };
+                    window.addEventListener('click', unmuteHandler, { once: true });
+                    window.addEventListener('keydown', unmuteHandler, { once: true });
+                    window.addEventListener('touchstart', unmuteHandler, { once: true });
+                }
             }
         });
     }