Chosen Home – Series Review & Ending Explained

Genichi Hatano is a single gay man living alone. He works as a zookeeper at Nakayoshi Plaza. While he loves the job, people keep abandoning their pets at the zoo. Hatano has already brought home two dogs (Chizu and Chan) plus a turtle (Dora), even though his apartment strictly bans pets. Recently, someone left a bird in a cage. Hatano takes it in, adding Banana to his family of strays. Unfortunately, he gets caught. The apartment sent him an eviction notice for violating the no-pets policy, and now he must vacate.

Hatano reaches out to his friend Okabe, a real estate agent, to help him find a new rental. Okabe actually suggests he just buy a place, but Hatano hasn't saved enough money for that. At 50, Hatano just laughs off the idea of getting a loan. He's perfectly fine sticking with a rental for now. Okabe takes him to this run-down apartment building, but the location is great. The best part? The landlord, Inokashira, is cool with pets. The building is basically empty right now. It's just Inokashira and one other tenant named Hotaru, so she's happy to have the company. Hatano decides to go for it and moves in.

Hatano is looking for love, so he meets up with Momose at a gay dating agency. While they're looking through candidate profiles, Hatano opens up about his loneliness. He just wants a partner to share a big tub of ice cream with. However, Hatano is self-conscious about his age and keeps thinking no one would be interested in him. He backs out of the matchmaking thing, but Momose quotes the Japanese author Osamu Dazai: "Man was born for love and revolution." She wants him to reconsider and take a leap of faith in romance.

Hatano crosses paths with his teenage neighbour, Hotaru. She's a middle-schooler living by herself. Her mom, Tomoe, is on the run after embezzling money from her job. Her dad, Jin, has been out of the picture since the divorce and has a new family now. He doesn't want to look after her. Hotaru has managed to trick social services into thinking she has a guardian. In reality, she's on her own, and the landlady helps keep her secret. Hotaru spends her time skipping school to hang out with friends, which exasperates her teacher, Sakuta.

Hatano and Sakuta meet at the zoo. Hatano is trying to fix a broken bench, and Sakuta helps him out. Later, Hatano finds Sakuta's old marriage certificate. He realizes Sakuta wanted to marry his ex-boyfriend, Yoshida. Hatano decides to meddle a bit and see if he can help the couple reconnect. Meanwhile, Hotaru needs a favour from Hatano. Her teacher, Sakuta, is demanding a parent-teacher conference. Instead of calling her biological dad, she asks Hatano to pretend to be her father. He feels bad for the lonely teenager and tries to play along with her request.

Chosen Home is a BL drama for the grown-ups in the room. I like that it focuses on an older gay man in his 50s, a demographic that's rarely given the spotlight. The series explores mature topics, such as aging and loneliness, that you just don't see with younger characters. It also handles many LGBTQ+ issues, which are always treated with respect. I'm grateful that Chosen Home simply exists, providing meaningful representation and spreading positivity everywhere. This wonderful story fills my heart with so much warmth.

I love how Hatano, Hotaru, and other quirky characters grow close like an unconventional family. Hatano acts like that one meddling gay uncle we all know and adore. He befriends Hotaru, a young girl left behind by her biological parents. Hatano becomes Hotaru's father figure, nanny, therapist, tutor, and even an accomplice in crime. Their relationship comes alive in hilarious storylines, making you laugh at all the silly antics. Other moments are deeply personal, like an intimate conversation that tugs at your heartstrings. Chosen Home has many well-written scenes that hit the right emotional notes.

The characters are so lovable! Some have colourful personalities, while others go on complex journeys. The whole ensemble cast gets a chance to shine, so they're all memorable in their own way. Even Hotaru's parents, who abandoned their daughter, are written with nuance. The story has fun subplots that bring together unlikely characters, making the group dynamics more interesting. By the end, I know everybody so well that I can give you five fun facts about any of them. I've grown weirdly attached to my fictional friends. Scoot over, I'm joining their family!

Hatano pretends to be Hotaru's dad so she won't be taken away by social services. A few people come close to exposing the truth, so the leads must scramble and avoid getting caught. I'm rooting for them, but my brain can't stop poking holes in the plot. Why does no one ask for an ID? Hotaru's mom is a fugitive, so the police should cross-reference every relative. I also question each character's logic. Would Hatano go this far to help a neighbour? Would everyone else casually sign up for a felony? This ridiuclous story relies on too many conveniences for it to work.

The plot holes are only a minor issue. My biggest problem with this series is actually the lack of romance, since I don't believe Hatano and Sakuta are in love. They have zero sparks or chemistry, but it isn't because of their age gap. Early on, Sakuta kept his distance, and Hatano looked desperate while begging for his attention. Later, Sakuta treats their relationship with businesslike efficiency, planning a budget and browsing home listings. Where's the affection? He seems more in love with the idea of settling down with anyone, and Hatano is just the most available partner.

Even if Chosen Home doesn't feel romantic, it still offers a lot to love. I appreciate it for showing two men in a long-term relationship. Hell yes, the gentle story sends a powerful message about marriage equality! I'm also impressed with Hotaru's actress (Tamaki Shiratori), who has a promising career ahead of her. The whole cast clicks well together and shares a cozy rapport. The finale is full of positivity, but it feels bittersweet to say goodbye. Chosen Home has been my safe space and my happy place for the entire series, so I'm gonna miss all these characters!