# Dear Edward
**Dear Edward** is an American drama television series created by Jason Katims for Apple TV+, adapted from Ann Napolitano's 2020 novel of the same name. It follows 12-year-old Edward Adler ([Colin O'Brien](https://www.edgepedia.org/colin-obrien-actor)), the sole survivor of a commercial plane crash that kills every other passenger, including his parents and older brother, and the network of bereaved relatives who form friendships, romances, and communities as they try to move forward.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2022/02/apple-studios-to-adapt-bestselling-novel-dear-edward-as-new-series-from-jason-katims/) The 10-episode season premiered on February 3, 2023, and Apple TV+ canceled the series on April 19, 2023, without a second season.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/1089977/dear-edward-canceled-by-apple-tv-after-one-season/) • [3](https://www.thewrap.com/dear-edward-canceled-by-apple-tv-after-one-season/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Basis | Adaptation of Ann Napolitano's 2020 novel *Dear Edward*, published by Dial Press in January 2020[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2022/02/apple-studios-to-adapt-bestselling-novel-dear-edward-as-new-series-from-jason-katims/) • [4](https://www.meath.ie/system/files/media/file-uploads/2024-09/Dear%20Edward%20Book%20Club%20Kit%20Guide.pdf) |
| Creator | Jason Katims (*Friday Night Lights*, *Parenthood*), who wrote, showran, and executive produced through True Jack Productions[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2022/02/apple-studios-to-adapt-bestselling-novel-dear-edward-as-new-series-from-jason-katims/) |
| Run | Premiered February 3, 2023; one season of 10 episodes; canceled April 19, 2023[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/1089977/dear-edward-canceled-by-apple-tv-after-one-season/) • [3](https://www.thewrap.com/dear-edward-canceled-by-apple-tv-after-one-season/) |
| Premise | Edward Adler, 12, is the only survivor of a plane crash that kills every other passenger, including his family[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dear_edward/s01) |
| Lead cast | Connie Britton (Dee Dee), Taylor Schilling (Lacey), Colin O'Brien (Edward)[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2022/02/apple-studios-to-adapt-bestselling-novel-dear-edward-as-new-series-from-jason-katims/) |
| Reception | Metascore 61 (generally favorable); 57% Tomatometer and 62% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes[6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/dear-edward/critic-reviews/) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dear_edward/s01) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
The series opens with a jet falling from the sky over Colorado, killing everyone aboard except Edward Adler, a 12-year-old piano prodigy whom the press nicknames "Miracle Boy."[7](https://time.com/6251342/dear-edward-review-apple/) Edward, who has lost his parents and his beloved older brother Jordan, is sent to live with his aunt Lacey ([Taylor Schilling](https://www.edgepedia.org/taylor-schilling)) and her husband John ([Carter Hudson](https://www.edgepedia.org/carter-hudson)) upstate from New York City.[8](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/02/01/arts/dear-edward-isnt-just-another-sob-story/) Strangers write him letters, the "Dear Edward" letters of the title, telling him he is lucky to be alive; his uncle hides them to shield him from the uglier messages.[9](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/feb/03/dear-edward-review-plane-crash-apple-tv) • [8](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/02/01/arts/dear-edward-isnt-just-another-sob-story/)
The drama is an ensemble piece centered on a bereavement support group for the victims' families.[7](https://time.com/6251342/dear-edward-review-apple/) Katims said he added characters to the novel's story and had them interact through grief counseling because he "needed to see people mesh with each other."[10](https://apnews.com/article/7a5f6f0a49aca8213e9abd48feea26cb) Among the added characters is Dee Dee ([Connie Britton](https://www.edgepedia.org/connie-britton)), a wealthy Manhattan socialite whose husband dies in the crash, and Adriana Washington (Anna Uzele), whose grandmother, a longtime New York congresswoman, was a passenger; Adriana inherits her grandmother's desire to serve while finding politics frustrating.[10](https://apnews.com/article/7a5f6f0a49aca8213e9abd48feea26cb) Other storylines follow Kojo (Idris DeBrand), who comes from Ghana to say goodbye to his late sister and take custody of his young niece Geena, and Linda (Amy Forsyth), a pregnant woman with no family to lean on.[11](https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2023/2/3/23576550/dear-edward-appletv-series-ann-napolitano-taylor-schilling-connie-britton-colin-obrien) • [12](https://www.tvinsider.com/1079559/dear-edward-review-apple-tv-plus-matt-roush/)
## Production
Apple TV+ announced a series order on February 1, 2022, the first order to come from Katims's overall deal with the streamer.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2022/02/apple-studios-to-adapt-bestselling-novel-dear-edward-as-new-series-from-jason-katims/) Katims wrote the series and executive produced alongside Jeni Mulein through True Jack Productions; author Napolitano and [Fisher Stevens](https://www.edgepedia.org/fisher-stevens) also served as executive producers, with Stevens directing the pilot.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2022/02/apple-studios-to-adapt-bestselling-novel-dear-edward-as-new-series-from-jason-katims/) • [3](https://www.thewrap.com/dear-edward-canceled-by-apple-tv-after-one-season/)
The series reunited Katims with Connie Britton, who played Tami Taylor on *Friday Night Lights*, the NBC drama Katims developed and showran; Katims said he had been waiting since that show's 2011 series finale to find another project for her.[10](https://apnews.com/article/7a5f6f0a49aca8213e9abd48feea26cb) The cast also included [Brian d'Arcy James](https://www.edgepedia.org/brian-darcy-james) and Jasmin Walker.[3](https://www.thewrap.com/dear-edward-canceled-by-apple-tv-after-one-season/)
## The novel
Napolitano's novel was published by Dial Press in January 2020, became an instant New York Times bestseller, and was a Read with Jenna selection.[4](https://www.meath.ie/system/files/media/file-uploads/2024-09/Dear%20Edward%20Book%20Club%20Kit%20Guide.pdf) It was inspired in part by the 2010 crash of Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771, which left 103 people dead and a single survivor.[11](https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2023/2/3/23576550/dear-edward-appletv-series-ann-napolitano-taylor-schilling-connie-britton-colin-obrien) In the novel, the disaster takes place on a flight from New York to Los Angeles, and the real-life survivor, a nine-year-old Dutch boy, becomes the 12-year-old American Edward.[9](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/feb/03/dear-edward-review-plane-crash-apple-tv) The book twins the narrative of the flight from takeoff to impact with the story of Edward's life over the following six years.[13](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ann-napolitano/dear-edward/)
## Reception and cancellation
Critical response was mixed to favorable. The season scored 61 on Metacritic, with 7 of 16 reviews positive, 9 mixed, and none negative.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/dear-edward/critic-reviews/) On Rotten Tomatoes it held a 57% Tomatometer from 30 reviews and a 62% Popcornmeter from more than 50 audience ratings; the critics consensus called it "sincerely acted and occasionally quite moving" while bearing "the signature of overdetermined schmaltz that's too intent on wringing tears."[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dear_edward/s01) Reviewers praised the performances of Britton, Schilling, Uzele, and DeBrand, and the sincerity of its treatment of grief, while criticizing uneven subplots and a tone some found monotonous or treacly.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/dear-edward/critic-reviews/) The Guardian's Ellen E Jones wrote that Britton and Schilling invested their characters with "much-needed animation and individuality, modulating the programme's otherwise monotonous tone of grief, grief and yet more unimaginable grief."[9](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/feb/03/dear-edward-review-plane-crash-apple-tv)
On April 19, 2023, Apple TV+ canceled the series after one season.[3](https://www.thewrap.com/dear-edward-canceled-by-apple-tv-after-one-season/) TheWrap noted it joined *Little Voice* and *Shantaram* as Apple TV+ scripted originals axed after a single season that had not been intended as closed-ended stories.[3](https://www.thewrap.com/dear-edward-canceled-by-apple-tv-after-one-season/) Katims had said before the cancellation that he would happily return to the characters for another season.[14](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/dear-edward-stars-connie-britton-and-taylor-schilling-and-creator-jason-katims-talk-story-grief-resilience/)
## References
1. [Apple Studios to adapt bestselling novel "Dear Edward" as new series from Jason Katims, Apple TV Press (February 1, 2022)](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2022/02/apple-studios-to-adapt-bestselling-novel-dear-edward-as-new-series-from-jason-katims/)
2. ['Dear Edward' Canceled by Apple TV+ After One Season, TV Insider (April 20, 2023)](https://www.tvinsider.com/1089977/dear-edward-canceled-by-apple-tv-after-one-season/)
3. ['Dear Edward' Canceled by Apple TV+ After One Season, TheWrap (April 19, 2023)](https://www.thewrap.com/dear-edward-canceled-by-apple-tv-after-one-season/)
4. [Dear Edward Book Club Kit Guide, Meath County Council (2024)](https://www.meath.ie/system/files/media/file-uploads/2024-09/Dear%20Edward%20Book%20Club%20Kit%20Guide.pdf)
5. [Dear Edward: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dear_edward/s01)
6. [Dear Edward critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/dear-edward/critic-reviews/)
7. ['Dear Edward' Is TV's Weepiest Show Since 'This Is Us', Time (February 2, 2023)](https://time.com/6251342/dear-edward-review-apple/)
8. ['Dear Edward' isn't just another sob story, The Boston Globe (February 1, 2023)](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/02/01/arts/dear-edward-isnt-just-another-sob-story/)
9. [Dear Edward review, The Guardian (February 3, 2023)](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/feb/03/dear-edward-review-plane-crash-apple-tv)
10. [Connie Britton's new show is a 'Friday Night Lights' reunion, AP News (January 30, 2023)](https://apnews.com/article/7a5f6f0a49aca8213e9abd48feea26cb)
11. ['Dear Edward' Apple TV+ series review, Chicago Sun-Times (February 3, 2023)](https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2023/2/3/23576550/dear-edward-appletv-series-ann-napolitano-taylor-schilling-connie-britton-colin-obrien)
12. [Roush Review: Finding a Way Past Grief with 'Dear Edward', TV Insider (2023)](https://www.tvinsider.com/1079559/dear-edward-review-apple-tv-plus-matt-roush/)
13. [Dear Edward, Kirkus Reviews (2020)](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ann-napolitano/dear-edward/)
14. [Dear Edward May Be the Next Drama Binge-Watch You Need, Rotten Tomatoes editorial (2023)](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/dear-edward-stars-connie-britton-and-taylor-schilling-and-creator-jason-katims-talk-story-grief-resilience/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Adapted and franchise screen series › Literary and classic serial adaptations › Romance and comedy-drama adaptations*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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