diff --git a/nextaction.py b/nextaction.py
index 0d96210..21333ba 100755
--- a/nextaction.py
+++ b/nextaction.py
@@ -11,6 +11,14 @@
 from datetime import datetime
 
 
+def is_item_visible(item):
+    """Returns true if the item is visible."""
+    for attr in ['is_deleted', 'is_archived', 'in_history', 'checked']:
+        if item[attr] == 1:
+            return False
+    return True
+
+
 def get_subitems(items, parent_item=None):
     """Search a flat item list for child items."""
     result_items = []
@@ -20,6 +28,8 @@ def get_subitems(items, parent_item=None):
     else:
         required_indent = 1
     for item in items:
+        if not is_item_visible(item):
+            continue
         if parent_item:
             if not found and item['id'] != parent_item['id']:
                 continue
@@ -131,14 +141,22 @@ def remove_label(item, label):
                     # Get all items for the project, sort by the item_order field.
                     items = sorted(api.items.all(lambda x: x['project_id'] == project['id']), key=lambda x: x['item_order'])
 
+                    # Tracks whether the first visible item at the root of the project has been found.
+                    root_first_found = False
+                    project_has_next_action = False
+
                     for item in items:
 
+                        if not is_item_visible(item):
+                            continue
+
                         # If its too far in the future, remove the next_action tag and skip
                         if args.hide_future > 0 and 'due_date_utc' in item.data and item['due_date_utc'] is not None:
                             due_date = datetime.strptime(item['due_date_utc'], '%a %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S +0000')
                             future_diff = (due_date - datetime.utcnow()).total_seconds()
                             if future_diff >= (args.hide_future * 86400):
                                 remove_label(item, label_id)
+                                root_first_found = True
                                 continue
 
                         item_type = get_item_type(item)
@@ -147,12 +165,19 @@ def remove_label(item, label):
                             logging.debug('Identified %s as %s type', item['content'], item_type)
 
                         if item_type or len(child_items) > 0:
+
+                            # If the project is serial and there is a next action,
+                            # remove the next_action from all children.
+                            if project_type == 'serial' and project_has_next_action:
+                                for child_item in child_items:
+                                    remove_label(child_item, label_id)
                             # Process serial tagged items
-                            if item_type == 'serial':
+                            elif item_type == 'serial':
+                                first_found = False
                                 for child_item in child_items:
-                                    first_found = False
-                                    if child_item['checked'] == 0 and not first_found:
+                                    if is_item_visible(child_item) and not first_found:
                                         add_label(child_item, label_id)
+                                        project_has_next_action = True
                                         first_found = True
                                     else:
                                         remove_label(child_item, label_id)
@@ -163,13 +188,16 @@ def remove_label(item, label):
 
                             # Remove the label from the parent
                             remove_label(item, label_id)
+                            root_first_found = True
 
                         # Process items as per project type on indent 1 if untagged
                         else:
                             if item['indent'] == 1:
                                 if project_type == 'serial':
-                                    if item['item_order'] == 1:
+                                    if is_item_visible(item) and not root_first_found:
                                         add_label(item, label_id)
+                                        root_first_found = True
+                                        project_has_next_action = True
                                     else:
                                         remove_label(item, label_id)
                                 elif project_type == 'parallel':