Livin La Pura Vida
The Simpsons join the Van Houtens on a Costa Rican trip.
"Livin La Pura Vida" is the seventh episode of the thirty-first season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 669th episode overall. It aired on Fox on November 17, 2019, and features guest star Fortune Feimster as Evelyn. The episode received positive reviews.
Quick Facts
- Season
- 31
- Episode
- 7
- Director
- Timothy Bailey
- Writer
- Brian Kelley
- Production
- ZABF03
- Air date
- 17 November 2019
- Guests
- Fortune Feimster as Evelyn
Facts from the source article.
Plot
When Marge arrives at the Van Houten residence to collect Bart, Luann extends an invitation for the Simpsons to join their family’s yearly Costa Rica trip, and they agree. Lisa catches a conversation between Homer and Marge about the rising costs and starts to fret over the expense. At the airport, the group includes the Van Houtens, the Hibberts, Superintendent Chalmers with Shauna, and Patty alongside her new girlfriend Evelyn. Homer attempts to be friendly toward Evelyn, but she insults him based on what she has heard. Once in Costa Rica, Lisa’s anxiety grows as Kirk keeps a running tally of costs, planning to divide the bill at the trip’s end. During dinner at the Van Houten vacation home, Homer and Evelyn find they share several interests. The next day, while the others go shopping, Homer and Evelyn stay on the beach; the group returns to find them drunk and badly sunburned. Marge extracts a promise from Homer to behave so she can capture the ideal family photo. At a waterfall, Homer and Marge take the picture, but Evelyn’s splash sends the phone into the water. That evening, Patty blames Marge for causing Homer to drag Evelyn down to his level. Marge counters that Evelyn has spoiled everything for her and is a harmful influence on Homer because she behaves exactly like him. Horrified, Patty ends her relationship with Evelyn. Lisa confides her money worries to Bart, who suggests they show their parents the expense log Kirk has been keeping. The two sneak into the master bedroom and discover items Lisa takes for priceless artifacts, leading her to suspect the Van Houtens are smuggling them to fund the vacation. When she reveals this, Kirk explains they are merely salt and pepper shakers intended as gifts for the families. The Simpsons decide to leave. After Kirk adds extra charges for ruining the trip, the family tries to take the shakers but finds a painting of Kirkedemious Van Houten, the original builder of the house the Van Houtens now occupy. They call out the Van Houtens for charging others while using the house for free. Meanwhile, Marge apologizes to Patty, noting that while Homer dislikes her, Evelyn truly loves her. Patty agrees to get back together with Evelyn. Kirk returns the families’ money. Homer wants to redo the photo, but Marge insists their vacation is not about perfection but about embracing the moment.
Reception
The episode pulled in a 0.8 rating and a 4 share, with 2.08 million viewers tuning in, making it the most-watched program on Fox that night. Tony Sokol of Den of Geek rated it three out of five stars, calling it a beach drink without an umbrella. He noted that while there is plenty of material for jokes, the comedy is light. The country itself is left unbothered, and only the Simpsons get teased, once again failing to meet the community standard even when that standard is lowered. He pointed out that the family couldn't get into the country club in season seven's "Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield," and now they are aiming for the Van Houtens, arguing the episode needs more struggle and less class. Dennis Perkins of The A.V. Club gave it a B+, describing it as one of the better recent trips. He credited writer Brian Kelley for steering the family’s group vacation to the Van Houtens' favorite Costa Rican spot away from the sub-genre’s worst traps, while telling a coherent story from start to finish. Perkins also highlighted a clever mystery about how the seemingly not-much-richer Van Houtens afford their annual multi-family trip, plus some above-average character work addressing the financial stress the Simpsons' single-episode world travel usually ignores. Carol Vaughn of The Costa Rica Star found the episode very imaginative in its portrayal of Costa Rica, particularly for inventing new cocktails the characters drink, and said the depiction of the country was exceedingly favorable. Brian Kelley earned a nomination for the Writers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Writing in Animation at the 72nd Writers Guild of America Awards for his script.
More in LGBTQ-related Animated Television Episodes
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced