diff --git a/.planning/session.md b/.planning/session.md
index 4308fb6a..379fb654 100644
--- a/.planning/session.md
+++ b/.planning/session.md
@@ -64,6 +64,14 @@ Agents should read this file before substantive work and update it as work progr
 
 ## Session Log
 
+### 2026-03-10 (backward-compat blocker fixes)
+- Implemented three backward-compatibility fixes identified during code review:
+  - B1: `Slide.fromMap()` now migrates legacy `comments` field to `notes` (prevents silent data loss for old JSON payloads)
+  - B2: `Block.fromMap()` now normalizes legacy `type: "column"` to `ContentBlock.key` (prevents runtime crash for old serialized data)
+  - B3: Added 3 regression tests: legacy comments migration, notes-over-comments precedence, legacy column type normalization
+- Validation: all 709 core tests pass (3 new + 706 existing)
+- Committed and pushed to `claude/general-session-jBtv7`
+
 ### 2026-03-09 (review: release-next vs main in progress)
 - Started a code review of `release/next` against `main` using merge base `5fc2298e7580b9ef47d45cc29bc5a801d42bd622`.
 - Review focus: concrete regressions only, prioritized by user-visible/runtime impact, with verification against diff context and existing tests/call sites.
diff --git a/packages/core/lib/src/models/block_model.dart b/packages/core/lib/src/models/block_model.dart
index 3724f794..aa4943e4 100644
--- a/packages/core/lib/src/models/block_model.dart
+++ b/packages/core/lib/src/models/block_model.dart
@@ -62,7 +62,9 @@ sealed class Block with BlockMappable {
   );
 
   factory Block.fromMap(Map<String, Object?> map) {
-    final type = map['type'] as String;
+    var type = map['type'] as String;
+    // Normalize legacy 'column' type to 'block'.
+    if (type == 'column') type = ContentBlock.key;
     return switch (type) {
       SectionBlock.key => SectionBlock.fromMap(map),
       ContentBlock.key => ContentBlock.fromMap(map),
diff --git a/packages/core/lib/src/models/slide_model.dart b/packages/core/lib/src/models/slide_model.dart
index 989ff958..2697bc9a 100644
--- a/packages/core/lib/src/models/slide_model.dart
+++ b/packages/core/lib/src/models/slide_model.dart
@@ -33,8 +33,14 @@ class Slide with SlideMappable {
     this.notes = const [],
   });
 
-  factory Slide.fromMap(Map<String, Object?> map) =>
-      SlideMapper.fromMap(Map<String, dynamic>.from(map));
+  factory Slide.fromMap(Map<String, Object?> map) {
+    final normalized = Map<String, dynamic>.from(map);
+    // Migrate legacy 'comments' field to 'notes'.
+    if (normalized.containsKey('comments') && !normalized.containsKey('notes')) {
+      normalized['notes'] = normalized.remove('comments');
+    }
+    return SlideMapper.fromMap(normalized);
+  }
 
   /// Validation schema for slide data.
   static final schema = slideSchema.extend({
diff --git a/packages/core/test/src/models/block_model_test.dart b/packages/core/test/src/models/block_model_test.dart
index b9f72232..01085362 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/src/models/block_model_test.dart
+++ b/packages/core/test/src/models/block_model_test.dart
@@ -760,6 +760,14 @@ void main() {
           expect((block as WidgetBlock).name, 'Test');
         });
 
+        test('normalizes legacy column type to block', () {
+          final map = {'type': 'column', 'content': 'Legacy content'};
+          final block = Block.fromMap(map);
+
+          expect(block, isA<ContentBlock>());
+          expect((block as ContentBlock).content, 'Legacy content');
+        });
+
         test('throws for unknown type', () {
           final map = {'type': 'unknown'};
           expect(() => Block.fromMap(map), throwsArgumentError);
diff --git a/packages/core/test/src/models/slide_model_test.dart b/packages/core/test/src/models/slide_model_test.dart
index 5b46a30e..5128f83c 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/src/models/slide_model_test.dart
+++ b/packages/core/test/src/models/slide_model_test.dart
@@ -182,6 +182,25 @@ void main() {
           expect(slide.notes, ['Comment 1', 'Comment 2']);
         });
 
+        test('migrates legacy comments field to notes', () {
+          final slide = Slide.fromMap({
+            'key': 'legacy',
+            'comments': ['Old comment 1', 'Old comment 2'],
+          });
+
+          expect(slide.notes, ['Old comment 1', 'Old comment 2']);
+        });
+
+        test('prefers notes over comments when both present', () {
+          final slide = Slide.fromMap({
+            'key': 'both',
+            'notes': ['New note'],
+            'comments': ['Old comment'],
+          });
+
+          expect(slide.notes, ['New note']);
+        });
+
         test('tolerates null options for legacy payloads', () {
           final slide = Slide.fromMap({'key': 'legacy-slide', 'options': null});