Story, writing: In some ways this was such an ambitious drama. I don't think you'll see any other Japanese drama, or any TV drama anywhere, attempt to bring in Poincaré's conjecture, for instance, not to mention all the attention to the state of the educational system. And having subbed this, which means having watched every episode and many of the important scenes multiple times, I've also realized how much care was taken to connect whatever's going on at the moment with what happened before, and sometimes with future events too.
Unfortunately, for all its ambition in story material and its skill in making the drama an organic whole, it still resorts to clichés like the mad professor stereotype; if you watched this show you'd think all mathematicians are nuts and even those all-purpose, no-specialty professors like Miura are a little 'off.' I'm not sure if Oosugi Ren meant to make his character look like a complete nutcase, or if he was just directed to do so. Several times the science or the maths just doesn't work out, as I've pointed out in the Notes. Second, the show's agenda is clearly to celebrate the spirit of curiosity, inventiveness and (occasionally) breaking the rules, with Ayukawa set up as the voice of reason and social order explaining why she can't allow everything for Hanafusa Kento. This dichotomy works pretty well, especially when it's personified between Miura and Ayukawa, but it gets really preachy and routine to see the teachers gather round in the staff room and delivering the "lesson of the week regarding the educational system." Most of it well-said, all of it well-intentioned and interesting, but it's not your typical drama plot, and it can get a bit grating.
Acting: Ito Misaki has a talent for playing loserish women, whether it's the kabe onna in Yama onna, kabe onna or Ayukawa here. (Actually, they're so similar I confused them a bit, expecting Sasano Takashi to ring Ayukawa up and she spouting her Aomori dialect. It doesn't help that Tanihara Shosuke was in both shows too.) One of the highlights of Edison no Haha every week is seeing her distressed face when Kento makes trouble again. I don't know if this is her best role yet - maybe that's reserved for Hermes in Densha Otoko - but this may be her most sympathetic and endearing one in a while.
I thought Kagami-sensei's role could be better served. She's quite high-strung, one moment being all-businesslike and taking the lead in dealing with trouble when Ayukawa or the principal don't, but on the other hand so weak that she practically begs people to console her about her husband (ep3 & ep10); most of the time she is just the confident and responsible senior teacher, even if not passionate. I think I said before here that I didn't like Miura all that much either - up to the end he's still as obnoxious and self-centred as ever. Kubo the junior teacher may slack - he has a freeter's mentality about his job - but he doesn't make you hate him at all for it.
(I realized I missed out Sakai Maki! who's no. 2 to be credited and is the eponymous "Edison's mother." But her character's pretty set in stone from ep1 to 10, so I guess there's not much to say.)
The children's acting could be better - everyone's, even Shimizu Yuya who plays Kento. But that's alright; they're supposed to be 1st graders after all. Most of his lines were probably gibberish to him.
Sugita Kaoru as the Aoyagi mama ROCKS. Need I say more?
As some of you may know, I took over the soft subbing starting from ep3. Well, I've just finished ep10! (Furransu should be uploading it soon.) So, if you've let this drama lapse because there were no subs, why not continue? I think you'll find it worth the while, especially if you liked the earlier few episodes.
