diff --git a/unshackle/commands/kv.py b/unshackle/commands/kv.py
index 035f7f7..28c870d 100644
--- a/unshackle/commands/kv.py
+++ b/unshackle/commands/kv.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from unshackle.core.vault import Vault
 from unshackle.core.vaults import Vaults
 
 
-def _load_vaults(vault_names: list[str]) -> Vaults:
+def load_vaults(vault_names: list[str]) -> Vaults:
     """Load and validate vaults by name."""
     vaults = Vaults()
     for vault_name in vault_names:
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def _load_vaults(vault_names: list[str]) -> Vaults:
     return vaults
 
 
-def _process_service_keys(from_vault: Vault, service: str, log: logging.Logger) -> dict[str, str]:
+def process_service_keys(from_vault: Vault, service: str, log: logging.Logger) -> dict[str, str]:
     """Get and validate keys from a vault for a specific service."""
     content_keys = list(from_vault.get_keys(service))
 
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ def _process_service_keys(from_vault: Vault, service: str, log: logging.Logger)
     return {kid: key for kid, key in content_keys if kid not in bad_keys}
 
 
-def _copy_service_data(to_vault: Vault, from_vault: Vault, service: str, log: logging.Logger) -> int:
+def copy_service_data(to_vault: Vault, from_vault: Vault, service: str, log: logging.Logger) -> int:
     """Copy data for a single service between vaults."""
-    content_keys = _process_service_keys(from_vault, service, log)
+    content_keys = process_service_keys(from_vault, service, log)
     total_count = len(content_keys)
 
     if total_count == 0:
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def copy(to_vault_name: str, from_vault_names: list[str], service: Optional[str]
     log = logging.getLogger("kv")
 
     all_vault_names = [to_vault_name] + list(from_vault_names)
-    vaults = _load_vaults(all_vault_names)
+    vaults = load_vaults(all_vault_names)
 
     to_vault = vaults.vaults[0]
     from_vaults = vaults.vaults[1:]
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def copy(to_vault_name: str, from_vault_names: list[str], service: Optional[str]
         services_to_copy = [service] if service else from_vault.get_services()
 
         for service_tag in services_to_copy:
-            added = _copy_service_data(to_vault, from_vault, service_tag, log)
+            added = copy_service_data(to_vault, from_vault, service_tag, log)
             total_added += added
 
     if total_added > 0:
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ def add(file: Path, service: str, vaults: list[str]) -> None:
     log = logging.getLogger("kv")
     service = Services.get_tag(service)
 
-    vaults_ = _load_vaults(list(vaults))
+    vaults_ = load_vaults(list(vaults))
 
     data = file.read_text(encoding="utf8")
     kid_keys: dict[str, str] = {}
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def prepare(vaults: list[str]) -> None:
     """Create Service Tables on Vaults if not yet created."""
     log = logging.getLogger("kv")
 
-    vaults_ = _load_vaults(vaults)
+    vaults_ = load_vaults(vaults)
 
     for vault in vaults_:
         if hasattr(vault, "has_table") and hasattr(vault, "create_table"):
diff --git a/unshackle/core/cacher.py b/unshackle/core/cacher.py
index ba0c6a8..28cee47 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/cacher.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/cacher.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class Cacher:
             except jwt.DecodeError:
                 pass
 
-        self.expiration = self._resolve_datetime(expiration) if expiration else None
+        self.expiration = self.resolve_datetime(expiration) if expiration else None
 
         payload = {"data": self.data, "expiration": self.expiration, "version": self.version}
         payload["crc32"] = zlib.crc32(jsonpickle.dumps(payload).encode("utf8"))
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class Cacher:
         return self.path.stat()
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _resolve_datetime(timestamp: EXP_T) -> datetime:
+    def resolve_datetime(timestamp: EXP_T) -> datetime:
         """
         Resolve multiple formats of a Datetime or Timestamp to an absolute Datetime.
 
@@ -118,15 +118,15 @@ class Cacher:
             datetime.datetime(2022, 6, 27, 9, 49, 13, 657208)
             >>> iso8601 = now.isoformat()
             '2022-06-27T09:49:13.657208'
-            >>> Cacher._resolve_datetime(iso8601)
+            >>> Cacher.resolve_datetime(iso8601)
             datetime.datetime(2022, 6, 27, 9, 49, 13, 657208)
-            >>> Cacher._resolve_datetime(iso8601 + "Z")
+            >>> Cacher.resolve_datetime(iso8601 + "Z")
             datetime.datetime(2022, 6, 27, 9, 49, 13, 657208)
-            >>> Cacher._resolve_datetime(3600)
+            >>> Cacher.resolve_datetime(3600)
             datetime.datetime(2022, 6, 27, 10, 52, 50, 657208)
-            >>> Cacher._resolve_datetime('3600')
+            >>> Cacher.resolve_datetime('3600')
             datetime.datetime(2022, 6, 27, 10, 52, 51, 657208)
-            >>> Cacher._resolve_datetime(7800.113)
+            >>> Cacher.resolve_datetime(7800.113)
             datetime.datetime(2022, 6, 27, 11, 59, 13, 770208)
 
         In the int/float examples you may notice that it did not return now + 3600 seconds
diff --git a/unshackle/core/session.py b/unshackle/core/session.py
index dd5dc5b..3a4f704 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/session.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/session.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class CurlSession(Session):
         )
         self.log = logging.getLogger(self.__class__.__name__)
 
-    def _get_sleep_time(self, response: Response | None, attempt: int) -> float | None:
+    def get_sleep_time(self, response: Response | None, attempt: int) -> float | None:
         if response:
             retry_after = response.headers.get("Retry-After")
             if retry_after:
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ class CurlSession(Session):
                 )
 
             if attempt < self.max_retries:
-                if sleep_duration := self._get_sleep_time(response, attempt + 1):
+                if sleep_duration := self.get_sleep_time(response, attempt + 1):
                     if sleep_duration > 0:
                         time.sleep(sleep_duration)
             else:
diff --git a/unshackle/core/tracks/track.py b/unshackle/core/tracks/track.py
index 72b8e60..6cf12c9 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/tracks/track.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/tracks/track.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ from unshackle.core.constants import DOWNLOAD_CANCELLED, DOWNLOAD_LICENCE_ONLY
 from unshackle.core.downloaders import aria2c, curl_impersonate, n_m3u8dl_re, requests
 from unshackle.core.drm import DRM_T, PlayReady, Widevine
 from unshackle.core.events import events
-from unshackle.core.utilities import get_boxes, try_ensure_utf8, get_extension
+from unshackle.core.utilities import get_boxes, get_extension, try_ensure_utf8
 from unshackle.core.utils.subprocess import ffprobe
 
 
diff --git a/unshackle/core/update_checker.py b/unshackle/core/update_checker.py
index 5ca6502..8d601fc 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/update_checker.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/update_checker.py
@@ -28,21 +28,21 @@ class UpdateChecker:
     DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL = 24 * 60 * 60
 
     @classmethod
-    def _get_cache_file(cls) -> Path:
+    def get_cache_file(cls) -> Path:
         """Get the path to the update check cache file."""
         from unshackle.core.config import config
 
         return config.directories.cache / "update_check.json"
 
     @classmethod
-    def _load_cache_data(cls) -> dict:
+    def load_cache_data(cls) -> dict:
         """
         Load cache data from file.
 
         Returns:
             Cache data dictionary or empty dict if loading fails
         """
-        cache_file = cls._get_cache_file()
+        cache_file = cls.get_cache_file()
 
         if not cache_file.exists():
             return {}
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class UpdateChecker:
             return {}
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _parse_version(version_string: str) -> str:
+    def parse_version(version_string: str) -> str:
         """
         Parse and normalize version string by removing 'v' prefix.
 
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ class UpdateChecker:
                 return None
 
             data = response.json()
-            latest_version = cls._parse_version(data.get("tag_name", ""))
+            latest_version = cls.parse_version(data.get("tag_name", ""))
 
             return latest_version if cls._is_valid_version(latest_version) else None
 
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ class UpdateChecker:
         Returns:
             True if we should check for updates, False otherwise
         """
-        cache_data = cls._load_cache_data()
+        cache_data = cls.load_cache_data()
 
         if not cache_data:
             return True
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ class UpdateChecker:
             latest_version: The latest version found, if any
             current_version: The current version being used
         """
-        cache_file = cls._get_cache_file()
+        cache_file = cls.get_cache_file()
 
         try:
             cache_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ class UpdateChecker:
         Returns:
             The latest version string if an update is available from cache, None otherwise
         """
-        cache_data = cls._load_cache_data()
+        cache_data = cls.load_cache_data()
 
         if not cache_data:
             return None
diff --git a/unshackle/core/utilities.py b/unshackle/core/utilities.py
index a09f41c..dae0dc6 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/utilities.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/utilities.py
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ def extract_font_family(font_path: Path) -> Optional[str]:
     return None
 
 
-def _get_windows_fonts() -> dict[str, Path]:
+def get_windows_fonts() -> dict[str, Path]:
     """
     Get fonts from Windows registry.
 
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ def _get_windows_fonts() -> dict[str, Path]:
         }
 
 
-def _scan_font_directory(font_dir: Path, fonts: dict[str, Path], log: logging.Logger) -> None:
+def scan_font_directory(font_dir: Path, fonts: dict[str, Path], log: logging.Logger) -> None:
     """
     Scan a single directory for fonts.
 
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ def _scan_font_directory(font_dir: Path, fonts: dict[str, Path], log: logging.Lo
             log.debug(f"Failed to process {font_file}: {e}")
 
 
-def _get_unix_fonts() -> dict[str, Path]:
+def get_unix_fonts() -> dict[str, Path]:
     """
     Get fonts from Linux/macOS standard directories.
 
@@ -546,11 +546,9 @@ def _get_unix_fonts() -> dict[str, Path]:
             continue
 
         try:
-            _scan_font_directory(font_dir, fonts, log)
+            scan_font_directory(font_dir, fonts, log)
         except Exception as e:
             log.warning(f"Failed to scan {font_dir}: {e}")
-
-    log.debug(f"Discovered {len(fonts)} system font families")
     return fonts
 
 
@@ -565,8 +563,8 @@ def get_system_fonts() -> dict[str, Path]:
         Dictionary mapping font family names to their file paths
     """
     if sys.platform == "win32":
-        return _get_windows_fonts()
-    return _get_unix_fonts()
+        return get_windows_fonts()
+    return get_unix_fonts()
 
 
 # Common Windows font names mapped to their Linux equivalents
@@ -754,9 +752,9 @@ class DebugLogger:
         if self.enabled:
             self.log_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
             self.file_handle = open(self.log_path, "a", encoding="utf-8")
-            self._log_session_start()
+            self.log_session_start()
 
-    def _log_session_start(self):
+    def log_session_start(self):
         """Log the start of a new session with environment information."""
         import platform
 
@@ -821,11 +819,11 @@ class DebugLogger:
         if service:
             entry["service"] = service
         if context:
-            entry["context"] = self._sanitize_data(context)
+            entry["context"] = self.sanitize_data(context)
         if request:
-            entry["request"] = self._sanitize_data(request)
+            entry["request"] = self.sanitize_data(request)
         if response:
-            entry["response"] = self._sanitize_data(response)
+            entry["response"] = self.sanitize_data(response)
         if duration_ms is not None:
             entry["duration_ms"] = duration_ms
         if success is not None:
@@ -840,7 +838,7 @@ class DebugLogger:
 
         for key, value in kwargs.items():
             if key not in entry:
-                entry[key] = self._sanitize_data(value)
+                entry[key] = self.sanitize_data(value)
 
         try:
             self.file_handle.write(json.dumps(entry, default=str) + "\n")
@@ -848,7 +846,7 @@ class DebugLogger:
         except Exception as e:
             print(f"Failed to write debug log: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
 
-    def _sanitize_data(self, data: Any) -> Any:
+    def sanitize_data(self, data: Any) -> Any:
         """
         Sanitize data for JSON serialization.
         Handles complex objects and removes sensitive information.
@@ -860,7 +858,7 @@ class DebugLogger:
             return data
 
         if isinstance(data, (list, tuple)):
-            return [self._sanitize_data(item) for item in data]
+            return [self.sanitize_data(item) for item in data]
 
         if isinstance(data, dict):
             sanitized = {}
@@ -883,7 +881,7 @@ class DebugLogger:
                 if should_redact:
                     sanitized[key] = "[REDACTED]"
                 else:
-                    sanitized[key] = self._sanitize_data(value)
+                    sanitized[key] = self.sanitize_data(value)
             return sanitized
 
         if isinstance(data, bytes):
diff --git a/unshackle/core/utils/webvtt.py b/unshackle/core/utils/webvtt.py
index 76a8a36..9379fc6 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/utils/webvtt.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/utils/webvtt.py
@@ -3,8 +3,11 @@ import sys
 import typing
 from typing import Optional
 
+import pysubs2
 from pycaption import Caption, CaptionList, CaptionNode, CaptionReadError, WebVTTReader, WebVTTWriter
 
+from unshackle.core.config import config
+
 
 class CaptionListExt(CaptionList):
     @typing.no_type_check
@@ -142,7 +145,24 @@ def merge_segmented_webvtt(vtt_raw: str, segment_durations: Optional[list[int]]
     """
     MPEG_TIMESCALE = 90_000
 
-    vtt = WebVTTReaderExt().read(vtt_raw)
+    # Check config for conversion method preference
+    conversion_method = config.subtitle.get("conversion_method", "auto")
+    use_pysubs2 = conversion_method in ("pysubs2", "auto")
+
+    if use_pysubs2:
+        # Try using pysubs2 first for more lenient parsing
+        try:
+            # Use pysubs2 to parse and normalize the VTT
+            subs = pysubs2.SSAFile.from_string(vtt_raw)
+            # Convert back to WebVTT string for pycaption processing
+            normalized_vtt = subs.to_string("vtt")
+            vtt = WebVTTReaderExt().read(normalized_vtt)
+        except Exception:
+            # Fall back to direct pycaption parsing
+            vtt = WebVTTReaderExt().read(vtt_raw)
+    else:
+        # Use pycaption directly
+        vtt = WebVTTReaderExt().read(vtt_raw)
     for lang in vtt.get_languages():
         prev_caption = None
         duplicate_index: list[int] = []