diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 657d437..c5f777e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -247,6 +247,25 @@ rat attach pp      # resolves to processing-pipeline
 Aliases share the same namespace as names; they must be unique among live
 sessions. They disappear when the session ends.
 
+### `rat watch ID_OR_NAME`
+
+Read-only passive observer. Connects to a session, replays its log,
+and then tails live output to stdout. **Nothing is sent back** — no
+input forwarded, no resize sent, the interactive attacher's session
+is untouched. `Ctrl-C` stops watching.
+
+```sh
+rat watch agent                 # follow session 'agent'
+rat watch agent | tee agent.out # also capture to a file
+rat watch agent > /dev/null &   # background watch for CI/monitor use
+```
+
+Useful for over-the-shoulder review without risking an errant keypress
+into the live session, or for piping a session's live output into
+another tool. The watcher doesn't enter raw mode, so output is
+subject to your terminal's current width; for clean rendering match
+the attached client's size.
+
 ### `rat kill ID_OR_NAME [-y, --yes]`
 
 Terminate a session. Prompts `Are you sure? [y/N]` (default No) unless
diff --git a/src/bin/rat.rs b/src/bin/rat.rs
index 70d98af..72cee7f 100644
--- a/src/bin/rat.rs
+++ b/src/bin/rat.rs
@@ -131,6 +131,13 @@ enum Cmd {
         #[arg(value_enum)]
         shell: clap_complete::Shell,
     },
+    /// Read-only passive observation of a live session. Replays then
+    /// tails the output stream. No input forwarded, no resize sent —
+    /// the attached interactive client is untouched. Ctrl-C to stop.
+    Watch {
+        /// Session name, alias, UUID, or UUID prefix.
+        id: String,
+    },
 }
 
 #[tokio::main]
@@ -157,6 +164,10 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
         Some(Cmd::Rename { id, new_name }) => rename(&id, &new_name),
         Some(Cmd::Alias { id, alias }) => add_alias(&id, &alias),
         Some(Cmd::Completions { shell }) => completions(shell),
+        Some(Cmd::Watch { id }) => {
+            let session_id = resolve_session(&id)?;
+            watch(session_id).await
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -868,6 +879,122 @@ async fn run_attach_cycle(mut id: SessionId, force: bool) -> Result<()> {
     }
 }
 
+// Read-only attach. Connects the same way a normal client does, replays
+// the log from seq 0, and streams PtyOutput to stdout. Never sends
+// ClientMsg::Input, ClientMsg::Detach, or ClientMsg::Resize, so the
+// interactive attacher (if any) is unaffected. Stays in cooked mode so
+// Ctrl-C from the terminal line discipline cleanly ends the watch.
+async fn watch(session_id: SessionId) -> Result<()> {
+    let sock = paths::sock_path(&session_id.to_string());
+    let stream = UnixStream::connect(&sock)
+        .await
+        .with_context(|| format!("connect {}", sock.display()))?;
+
+    let (r, w) = stream.into_split();
+    let mut r = BufReader::new(r);
+    let mut w = w;
+
+    protocol::write_frame(&mut w, &ClientMsg::Attach { from_seq: 0 }).await?;
+
+    let first: DaemonMsg = protocol::read_frame(&mut r).await?;
+    let (sid, sname) = match first {
+        DaemonMsg::Attached {
+            session_id, name, ..
+        } => (session_id, name),
+        DaemonMsg::Error { message } => bail!("daemon error: {message}"),
+        _ => bail!("expected Attached first"),
+    };
+
+    print_watch_banner(&sid, sname.as_deref());
+
+    let stop = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let stop_c = Arc::clone(&stop);
+    tokio::spawn(async move {
+        let _ = tokio::signal::ctrl_c().await;
+        stop_c.notify_one();
+    });
+
+    let passthrough_kbd = kbd_passthrough_enabled();
+    let mut filter = OutputFilter::new(passthrough_kbd);
+    let mut stdout = tokio::io::stdout();
+    let mut ended_code: Option<Option<i32>> = None;
+
+    loop {
+        tokio::select! {
+            _ = stop.notified() => break,
+            msg = protocol::read_frame::<_, DaemonMsg>(&mut r) => {
+                let msg = match msg {
+                    Ok(m) => m,
+                    Err(_) => break,
+                };
+                match msg {
+                    DaemonMsg::Event { event } => match event.event {
+                        Event::PtyOutput { data } => {
+                            let filtered = filter.process(&data);
+                            if !filtered.is_empty()
+                                && stdout.write_all(&filtered).await.is_err()
+                            {
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            let _ = stdout.flush().await;
+                        }
+                        Event::SessionEnded { exit_code: code } => {
+                            ended_code = Some(code);
+                            break;
+                        }
+                        _ => {}
+                    },
+                    DaemonMsg::SessionEnded { exit_code: code } => {
+                        ended_code = Some(code);
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    _ => {}
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if let Some(code) = ended_code {
+        print_session_ended(&sid, sname.as_deref(), code);
+    } else {
+        eprintln!();
+        eprintln!("— watch stopped for {} —", sname.as_deref().unwrap_or(&sid));
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn print_watch_banner(session_id: &str, name: Option<&str>) {
+    let short = &session_id[..session_id.len().min(8)];
+    eprint!("\x1b]2;[rat watch] {short}\x07");
+    eprintln!();
+    eprintln!("{}", frame_top());
+    eprintln!("{}", frame_blank());
+    eprintln!(
+        "{}",
+        frame_row(&format!(
+            "   {BOLD}rat{RESET} {DIM}·{RESET} watching {DIM}(read-only){RESET}"
+        ))
+    );
+    eprintln!("{}", frame_blank());
+    eprintln!(
+        "{}",
+        frame_row(&format!(
+            "   session:  {BOLD}{session_id}{RESET}{}",
+            name.map(|n| format!(" {DIM}({n}){RESET}"))
+                .unwrap_or_default()
+        ))
+    );
+    eprintln!(
+        "{}",
+        frame_row(&format!(
+            "   {DIM}(Ctrl-C to stop · no input forwarded to the session){RESET}"
+        ))
+    );
+    eprintln!("{}", frame_blank());
+    eprintln!("{}", frame_bot());
+    eprintln!();
+}
+
 fn list_text() -> Result<()> {
     let mut metas = read_all_metas()?;
     if metas.is_empty() {