Ash returns to Pallet Town and challenges Gary to a battle, but loses. Coincidentally, the same thing happened after Ash had won the Orange League.
This episode's title is a pun on the saying "home is where the heart is".
As was the case in Goodbye... And Then, Setting Off! (2002) (the final episode of the previous series), the usual "To be continued" is omitted and replaced with "Next time... A new beginning!"
Ash decides to head to the Sinnoh region and, just like he did in Goodbye... And Then, Setting Off! (2002), leaves all of his Pokemon at Professor Oak's laboratory except for Pikachu. However, at the end of this episode, Ash's Aipom ends up following him and he decides to take her as well.
The English name of Sandgem Town was first revealed through the airing of this episode.