Not sure if you are aware (I wasn't), but if you need special symbols in a search, you can use multiple presses of the number keys (see symbols under the numbers), to get a multitude of different symbols or just to enter letters without using the right and left arrow to select. This will probably be quicker for those used to texting with old Nokias!
Also, if you have a show with a lot of episodes, and you want to watch them in order, it might be quicker to use search to find them, this seems to show the oldest episode first.