The new teen drama series Finding Her Edge combines plenty of young adult drama with the beauty of ice skating. While it revolves around the skating competitions and sports challenges, there is plenty to dissect in the characters.

We have all heard about stage mothers whose lives revolve around pushing their children in front of the camera at every turn. Well, this show has a father whose whole life is about making his daughters ice skating champs, whether they want it or not.

Will Russo (Harmon Walsh) was an Olympic champion with his late wife back in the day. Now he runs a skating rink/academy where he intends on having his daughters train to become as famous and brilliant at the sport as he and his wife were. Everything looks polished and shiny on the outside, but Will is having problems keeping the rink afloat financially. However, the financial side is only half of his problems.

Elise Russo (Alexandra Beaton) is the oldest of the three sisters. She is favored to be a world champion, but Elise is not entirely sure that is what she really wants for her life. Yes, she is a beautiful skater, but is her heart in it?

Adriana Russo (Madelyn Keys), the middle child, faces plenty of emotional issues. She left the sport after her mother died and has been helping her dad with the business side, but deep down she wants to get back on the ice.

And Maria Russo (Alice Malakov), the youngest daughter, is a bit of a rebel. She says she has always been thought of as the “little ice baby,” but what does she want for herself?

While the three girls are facing personal internal conflict, they are being trotted out to perform, aka skate. They are expected to uphold and carry on the Russo dynasty. Will Will keep pushing them or will he ultimately see their true desires? And, the sibling rivalry and conflicts also add to the plot.

Now add in Freddie (Olly Atkins), Adriana’s former skating partner, who is back with a new partner who happens to be Adriana’s good friend. Adriana and Freddie were a couple on and off the ice, but now they are simply skaters following new paths. Their old feelings for each other, however, bubble to the surface. They are now competitors in the ice dancing competitions, but they harbor deep personal feelings for each other.

And Brayden (Cale Ambrozic) is an ego-centric skater who knows he is talented, good-looking, and destined for greatness. When things look bleak for the Russo family, Adriana decides to team up with him and she finally gets back on the ice to fulfill her passion. 

Finding the amazing feeling of a great skating performance is in Adriana’s soul. Her sisters also feel the rush of a good performance but there is more magic in it for Adriana.

Add to the mix some other skaters training with Team Russo and you have the lineup of characters in this series. The drama aside, there are plenty of great ice skating scenes.

The business side of ice skating is always in the background. They need sponsorships, good publicity, and plenty of coverage in the media. Will Russo is a tough man, with his daughters as well as the business. And it is a business.

Sometimes it is as if Will does not care about his daughters’ lives. He simply wants to make them champions to carry on his legacy. But will he change and see what is really important to them? Is skating and being a champion as important to them as it is to him? Stay tuned. The final episode sparks a change of direction for several of the characters, leading to an unexpected tease for the next season.

The series follows these characters while exploring the cutthroat business of competition. It delves into sibling rivalries and relationships with the Russo sisters, and romantic relationships with the  various characters.

With the Olympics coming in Milan, Italy next month (February 2026), this is perfect timing to take a peek at what goes into training, the emotional and physical challenges, and the business itself.

The eight episodes of season one of Finding Her Edge are available on Netflix. The series is rated TV-PG.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites and is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Images are supplied courtesy NETFLIX 2026