The finale of Netflix’s new figure skating drama, Finding Her Edge, delivered a gold medal performance and a life-changing personal choice for its main character, Adriana Russo. The series, which released all eight episodes on January 22, 2026, concluded with Adriana winning the World Championships but losing her skating partner after choosing to follow her heart.
The show, based on the novel by Jennifer Iacopelli, follows the pressures on the famous Russo skating family. Adriana, played by Madelyn Keys, returned to competitive ice dancing with a new partner to save her family’s struggling business and legacy. The finale brought her emotional journey to a head with a win on the ice and a dramatic shift in her personal life.
The World Championship Victory and a Split on the Podium
At the championship in Paris, Adriana and her partner Brayden Elliott performed a powerful free dance. Their score of 98.36 was just enough to edge out the silver medalists, Adriana’s former partner and first love Freddie O’Connell and his partner Riley, who scored 98.14. This narrow victory secured the gold medal for Adriana and Brayden.
However, the triumph was immediately complicated. In a public moment after their win, Adriana kissed Freddie, making her true feelings clear to everyone watching. This act ended the “fake relationship” she and Brayden had maintained for sponsorships and public image. Brayden, who had developed real emotions for Adriana during their arrangement, felt hurt and used. He decided to walk away from both their romantic storyline and their professional skating partnership.
“He’s obviously been kicked to the side by his parents, and he’s been hurt by that… But when that’s stripped away from him again, he is worse and he becomes petty,” said Cale Ambrozic, who plays Brayden, about his character’s reaction.
Adriana’s Final Choice Between Brayden and Freddie
Throughout the season, Adriana was caught between her intense, new connection with Brayden and her deep, unfinished history with Freddie. Freddie, her childhood best friend and first love, had returned to train at her family’s rink with a new partner. Their past ended when a growth spurt made the Russos suggest Adriana find a new partner, a decision that left Freddie feeling rejected.
Despite building a strong and successful partnership with Brayden, Adriana realized their relationship was based more on pressure and necessity than on genuine trust. A pivotal moment occurred the night before leaving for Paris when a distracted Freddie nearly had a serious accident on the ice, and Adriana reacted quickly to save him. This event brought their lingering emotions to the surface.
“Freddie spent a lot of the first season looking towards the past, wishing that he had courage to change things for the better, and I think for season two he’s going into it with a lot of newfound courage,” shared Olly Atkins, the actor portraying Freddie.
Adriana ultimately chose Freddie. She accepted his confession of love and agreed to rebuild their relationship, both personally and professionally. For Adriana, this decision represented a choice for a healthier future where she felt truly supported and could be honest about her feelings.
The Fate of the Russo Family Rink
While Adriana managed her personal crossroads, her family faced a financial crisis. The Russo Rink was drowning in debt. Adriana’s father, Will, had tried to shield his daughters from the severity of their money problems, even selling his and his late wife’s Olympic gold medals to fund the trip to Paris.
A solution came from an unexpected ally. Camille, the family’s choreographer and close friend, arranged a deal with a competitor. The rink was sold to become the Voltage Skating Academy, which cleared the family’s debts. While the Russos lost day-to-day control of the business, Will kept the family home. The change was bittersweet but provided much-needed relief and a chance for a new beginning.
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New Partnerships and a Cliffhanger for the Future
The finale established new dynamics that set the stage for potential future stories. With Adriana and Brayden’s partnership dissolved, their coach proposed a major reshuffle. Adriana and Freddie reunited as professional ice dance partners, allowing them to blend their personal and professional lives seamlessly.
In a surprising twist, Brayden was paired with Riley, Freddie’s former partner and Adriana’s friend. This new partnership is fueled by more than just athletic ambition. Both Brayden and Riley feel personally hurt and betrayed, which could transform them into driven rivals.
“Brayden’s thought process is, ‘Riley is a great skater, but this is a two-in-one. I can have a great partner, and I can hurt the people that hurt me,’” explained Cale Ambrozic.
The final scene shows Adriana and Freddie skating together, happy and focused. However, their calm is interrupted when they see Brayden and Riley practicing together on the other side of the ice. Adriana’s initial shock hints at complex feelings of jealousy and concern about the new competitive threat this pairing represents.
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