I think it's amazing (definitely worth waking up at 5am to watch XD)

I agree with you that I didn't cry as much as I thought I would, but this drama makes my heart ache instead of make me cry, which I think it's even harder to do. It touches me. I can feel the pain of Shirahama, his resentment and regret at the end.

I don't understand most of what Shirahama sensei was saying in his speeches to students, but his tone of voice, his facial expressions and the look in his eyes are very convincing, made you feel you have to listen to him.

The three scenes that I'm most impressed (after just watching once with keyhole) were 1) Shirahama's nightmare and embraced his SIL afterwards 2) stepped in front of the train and rescued by his mother 3) the last talk to his students admitting he was wrong.

Shirahama must be a person with lots of pride. Even after losing an arm to war, he still kept his belief at first. Realizing what he taught his students were wrong and more importantly, admitting it to his students must be quite a struggle internally. I think he delivered this part very well.

No matter how the rating turns out, I think this is one of the best performance Sho had made.