diff --git a/tubearchivist/api/views.py b/tubearchivist/api/views.py
index e026dba..e1f8636 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/api/views.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/api/views.py
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ from rest_framework.authtoken.views import ObtainAuthToken
 from rest_framework.response import Response
 from rest_framework.views import APIView
 
+import re
+import logging
+import time
+
+logger = logging.getLogger('ta')
 
 def check_admin(user):
     """check for admin permission for restricted views"""
@@ -230,8 +235,39 @@ class VideoCommentView(ApiBaseView):
         # pylint: disable=unused-argument
         self.get_document(video_id)
 
+        # convert \n to <br> for comments and replies
+        data = self.response.get("data")
+        if isinstance(data, list):
+            comment_count = 0
+            start_time = time.time()  # Start the timer
+            for comment in data:
+                comment_count += 1
+                comment["comment_text"] = comment["comment_text"].replace("\n", "<br>")
+                comment["comment_text"] = self._add_seek_to(comment["comment_text"])
+                for reply in comment["comment_replies"]:
+                    comment_count += 1
+                    reply["comment_text"] = reply["comment_text"].replace("\n", "<br>")
+                    reply["comment_text"] = self._add_seek_to(reply["comment_text"])
+            end_time = time.time()  # End the timer
+            logger.debug("Time taken to parse %s comments: %s seconds", comment_count, (end_time - start_time))
+        else:
+            logger.warning("No comments found for video %s", video_id)
+
         return Response(self.response, status=self.status_code)
 
+    def _add_seek_to(self, comment_text):
+        """add js seekTo for timestamp in comments """
+
+        # Regular expression to match timestamps in the format of HH:MM:SS or MM:SS
+        timestamp_pattern = r"\b(?:[0-1]?[0-9]|2[0-3]):(?:[0-5]?[0-9]):(?:[0-5][0-9])|\b(?:[0-5]?[0-9]):(?:[0-5][0-9])\b"
+        timestamps = re.findall(timestamp_pattern, comment_text)
+
+        for timestamp in timestamps:
+            seek_to = f"javascript:seekVideoTo('{timestamp}')"
+            comment_text = comment_text.replace(timestamp, f'<a href="{seek_to}" class="ta-comment-timesamp>{timestamp}</a>')
+
+        return comment_text
+
 
 class VideoSimilarView(ApiBaseView):
     """resolves to /api/video/<video-id>/similar/

diff --git a/tubearchivist/static/script.js b/tubearchivist/static/script.js
index b1e6ad1..2423fbb 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/static/script.js
+++ b/tubearchivist/static/script.js
@@ -1266,7 +1266,7 @@ function createCommentBox(comment, isRoot) {
   commentBox.appendChild(commentAuthor);
 
   let commentText = document.createElement('p');
-  commentText.innerText = comment.comment_text;
+  commentText.innerHTML = comment.comment_text;
   commentBox.appendChild(commentText);
 
   const spacer = '<span class="space-carrot">|</span>';
@@ -1567,3 +1567,21 @@ function doShortcut(e) {
     }
   }
 }
+
+function seekVideoTo(timestamp) {
+  let videoElement = getVideoPlayer();
+  if (videoElement != null) {
+    const parts = timestamp.split(':');
+    // HH:MM:SS and MM:SS
+    let seconds;
+    if (parts.length === 3) {
+      seconds = parseInt(parts[0]) * 3600 + parseInt(parts[1]) * 60 + parseInt(parts[2]);
+    } else {
+      seconds = parseInt(parts[0]) * 60 + parseInt(parts[1]);
+    }
+    videoElement.currentTime = seconds;
+
+    videoElement.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' });
+  }
+}
+