Netflix’s Finding Her Edge landed quietly on January 22, 2026, and then did something few teen dramas manage. It skated straight into the global Top 10, picked up a Season 2 order within two weeks, and sent its source novel flying back up the bestseller charts. If you missed it the first time, or you’re catching up before the next season, here’s our review and guide to the ice dancing romance everyone kept talking about.
What Finding Her Edge is about
The series follows Adriana Russo (Madelyn Keys), the heir to a once-great ice dancing family that has fallen on hard times. To keep the Russo name alive and the family rink afloat, she sets her sights on the World Championships with a new partner, Brayden Elliot (Cale Ambrozic). The trouble is that her heart hasn’t fully moved on from Freddie O’Connell (Olly Atkins), her first love and former partner, who is now competing against her.
That setup gives the show its engine. On the ice, Adriana needs chemistry with Brayden to win. Off the ice, the old feelings for Freddie refuse to stay buried. Add sibling tension, money worries and the pressure of carrying a family legacy, and you get a soapy, easy-to-binge story that feels very much at home on Netflix.
From BookTok hit to Netflix series
The show is based on Jennifer Iacopelli’s YA novel Finding Her Edge, first published in hardcover in 2022. The book built a loyal following on TikTok’s BookTok community long before cameras rolled. Canadian studio WildBrain produced the adaptation, with author Jeff Norton serving as showrunner and executive producer. Norton developed the series alongside head writer and executive producer Shelley Scarrow.
The Netflix effect on the book was huge. Putnam publisher Jen Klonsky said the paperback sold “500% more copies in just 8 weeks compared to the hardcover.” The audiobook also saw a big spike in listens after the premiere. Iacopelli said she was “over the moon” at how viewers around the world received the show.
Season 1 was shot largely in Ontario’s Simcoe County, with scenes filmed in Orillia, Barrie and Wasaga Beach. Local rinks including Eastview Arena in Orillia and Wasaga Stars Arena stood in for the competitive skating world, and Norton wrapped production with a stretch of filming in Paris.
Cast and characters
The young cast carries the show, and critics singled out the performances as one of its strengths. Here are the main players from Season 1:
- Madelyn Keys as Adriana Russo, the determined lead
- Cale Ambrozic as Brayden Elliot, her new skating partner
- Olly Atkins as Freddie O’Connell, her ex and rival
- Alexandra Beaton as Elise Russo
- Harmon Walsh as Will Russo
- Alice Malakhov as Maria Russo
- Meredith Forlenza as Camille St. Denis
- Millie Davis as Riley Monroe
- Elvis Stojko as Kevin, a nice touch of real skating credibility from the Olympic medalist
Our verdict: what critics and viewers said
Based on the reviews, Finding Her Edge is a comfort watch rather than a prestige drama, and that’s mostly fine. On Rotten Tomatoes, Season 1 holds an 87% critics score from 15 reviews at the time of writing. The critics consensus calls it “binge-worthy” and says it never slips on the ice despite the soap. Metacritic is cooler, with a 56 Metascore from four reviews, which lands in “mixed or average” territory.
The common thread is clear. Reviewers liked the cast, the family-friendly tone and how easy the episodes go down. The complaints centered on cheesy dialogue, predictable twists and a love triangle that some felt never fully catches fire. Audience scores are also split, with the Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter sitting at 50%.
Viewing numbers tell a happier story. The show debuted at No. 4 on Netflix’s global Top 10, later climbed to No. 3, reached the Top 10 in 81 countries and passed 12 million views in its first two weeks. Our take: if you enjoy sports romances, YA adaptations or anything in the vein of a glossy teen soap, it’s an easy recommendation. If you want grit and surprises, look elsewhere in our TV and OTT coverage.
Season 2: renewal, filming and new faces
Netflix renewed the series on February 3, 2026, and the official announcement on Netflix Tudum confirmed the cast is back. Filming began in late August 2026 in Southern Ontario and is expected to wrap in December.
The new season moves the Russo sisters to Voltage Academy, where their national team hopes are on the line. Without giving away the Season 1 finale, Adriana’s romantic dilemma isn’t settled. Showrunner Jeff Norton promised fans “a seriously swoonworthy, soapy romantic rollercoaster,” and Ambrozic told Tudum that “the stakes are higher.”
New cast members include Nikita Olechko, Niamh Blackshaw, Matthew Finlan, Johnny Orlando, Justine Nelson, Saara Chaudry and Matt Wells. Elvis Stojko has also been promoted to series regular. Netflix hasn’t announced a release date yet, but based on the production schedule, a 2027 premiere looks likely. For more on the stars and shows making noise right now, check our Hollywood section.
Quick facts
- Premiere: January 22, 2026
- Episodes: 8 in Season 1
- Rating: TV-PG
- Based on: Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli
- Showrunner: Jeff Norton
- Studio: WildBrain
- Season 2: Renewed; filming through December 2026, release date not yet announced
- Where to watch: Netflix
About the author
Daya Nanoskar is an Entertainment Writer at Awesome TV and a contributor to AWSM Times. Daya covers film news, streaming releases, celebrity updates and industry news across Hollywood and Bollywood, and has written more than 2,300 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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