How to select data from mysql table by multiple dates?

Question

MySQL

I inherited a site on DLE and there is a self-written plugin that allows you to display episodes for the series. Among other things, there is such a terrible request.

(SELECT `t1`.`season`, `t1`.`episode`, `t1`.`name_orig`, `t1`.`name_rus`, `t1`.`date` AS `release`, `t2`.`id`, `t2`.`alt_name`, `t2`.`date`, `t2`.`category` 
                        FROM `" . PREFIX . "_episodes` AS `t1` 
                        LEFT OUTER JOIN `" . PREFIX . "_post` AS `t2` ON `t2`.`id` = `t1`.`post_id` 
                        WHERE `t1`.`date` <= NOW()
                        ORDER BY `season`, `episode` DESC
                        " . $limitSQL . ")
                    UNION
                        (SELECT `t1`.`season`, `t1`.`episode`, `t1`.`name_orig`, `t1`.`name_rus`, `t1`.`date` AS `release`, `t2`.`id`, `t2`.`alt_name`, `t2`.`date`, `t2`.`category` 
                        FROM `" . PREFIX . "_episodes` AS `t1` 
                        LEFT OUTER JOIN `" . PREFIX . "_post` AS `t2` ON `t2`.`id` = `t1`.`post_id` 
                        WHERE `t1`.`date` > NOW()
                        ORDER BY `season`, `episode`
                        LIMIT 1)

As conceived by the author, this query should display 3 previous episodes and one next from the current date.
Please advise how this request can be improved. I guess it's easier to choose the right data