Livin La Pura Vida
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- "Vacations aren't about the perfect photo. It's about being in the moment and billing your vida."
- ―Marge Simpson
"Livin La Pura Vida"
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Episode Information
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"Livin La Pura Vida" is the seventh episode of broadcast season 31 of The Simpsons and the six hundred sixty-ninth episode overall. It originally aired on November 17, 2019. The episode was written by Brian Kelley and directed by Timothy Bailey. It guest stars Fortune Feimster as Evelyn.
Contents
Synopsis[edit]
- The Simpsons join other Springfield families on the Van Houtens' annual trip to Costa Rica, which they obviously can't afford. While there, Homer befriends Patty's new girlfriend, Evelyn, and Lisa tracks down the real reason the Van Houtens can go on this trip every year.
Plot[edit]
After a sleepover for Bart and Milhouse at the Van Houten house, Luann invites the Simpson family to their annual trip to Costa Rica. Marge hurries home to propose the trip, and the family quickly accepts, despite their money issues. Lisa overhears a conversation between Homer and Marge, becomes worried, and tries to persuade them otherwise, but ineffectively.
At the airport, the Simpsons meet with the Van Houten family, the Hibbert family, Chalmers and Shauna (whom Jimbo breaks up with via phone call), Patty and her new girlfriend Evelyn to go on the vacation. After arriving in Costa Rica, Lisa becomes increasingly worried about the expenses. Meanwhile, Kirk keeps track of all costs upfront and plans to split the check at the end. Homer gets along well with Evelyn.
After Homer and Evelyn stay near the hotel, separating her from Patty, the families return to find them drunk and the hotel full of monkeys. Marge grows worried that Homer will ruin the vacation further. Bart finds Lisa distressed, and she reveals her concerns to him. Bart decides they should expose the expenses recorded in Kirk's book, with Milhouse being preoccupied with JJ Hibbert.
Bart and Lisa reach their bedroom using a hookshot made from Patty's underwire bra and Homer's bathing suit drawstring. Kirk develops stomach problems after drinking river water. Homer initially refuses a drink from Evelyn, but she convinces him after slipping it into his water bottle. In the bedroom, they find rare stones, but Kirk enters, so they flee.
Homer and Marge snap the perfect vacation photo at the waterfall, but Evelyn's splash sends the phone into a fish's mouth. Homer tries to retrieve it but fails, leaving Marge depressed at dinner. Patty becomes angry that Homer has influenced Evelyn. Marge points out that Evelyn behaves just like Homer and tells Patty she's "dating a Homer."
Lisa arrives at that moment and shows everyone the rare stones that the Van Houtens sell back home to fund their vacations. Kirk reveals they are actually salt and pepper holders and were meant as a surprise for the families, accusing Lisa of ruining it. On a lighter note, Jimbo has broken up with his new girlfriend and proposes to Shauna, who accepts.
The next morning, the Simpsons prepare to leave, and Kirk gives them their portion of the check, which Homer finds is unaffordable. Evelyn seeks comfort after Patty breaks up with her. Marge feels guilty, but Bart points out she now resembles Homer more. Kirk makes them pay for the salt and pepper balls entirely, and the family insists on retrieving them. In doing so, they uncover something hidden behind a flag.
They arrive at the zipline where everyone is gathered and reveal that the house is owned by the Van Houten family, built by explorer Kirkedemious Van Houten. Kirk had been making the other families pay for the trip so he didn't have to. As everyone confronts him, Kirk escapes via zipline and the others follow. Marge tells Patty that unlike Homer, she truly loves her, while Homer actually hates her—more than he hates Selma—because he pities Selma for having to live with Patty.
Patty and Evelyn reconcile, the families get their money back, and enjoy the vacation as intended. On the flight home, Homer and Marge finally take a good photo. Bart admires his El Barto graffiti written in the jungle. Chalmers tells Shauna he approves of the engagement, but Jimbo's parents freak out and cancel the wedding, helping Chalmers bond more with her. The Van Houtens start cleaning up in preparation for the next trip, but discover monkeys have trashed another room. Kirk fights a monkey for a container of muscle enhancer pills, which spills onto the family, causing the monkeys to attack them.
Production[edit]
Reception[edit]
In its original airing, "Livin La Pura Vida" was watched by 2.08 million viewers and earned a 0.8 rating with a 4 share, making it the most-watched show on Fox that night.[1]
Tony Sokol of Den of Geek gave the episode three out of five stars. Sokol didn't enjoy the focus on the Van Houtens, calling them "not the most engaging family in Springfield." Sokol concluded his review by referring to the episode as "a beach drink without an umbrella" and said that it was "light on the comedy."[2]
Dennis Perkins of The A.V. Club gave the episode a B+ rating. He called the episode "one of the better recent excursions" and praised the lack of "lookie at them foreigners" jokes. He concluded his review by calling the episode "A satisfactorily resolved Simpsons travel episode is a nice getaway."[3]
Carol Vaughn of The Costa Rica Star praised the episode for hitting "highlights of what is available to tourists, including exotic flora and fauna, waterfalls, canopy tours, mountains, beaches, monkeys, and luxurious hotels."[4]
"Livin La Pura Vida" was nominated for a 2020 Writers Guild of America Award in Animation. However, it lost to "Thanksgiving of Horror".[5]
As of September 2025, "Livin La Pura Vida" has a 6.6 rating on IMDb.[6]
In other languages[edit]
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Gallery[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ TV by the Numbers - "‘SNF,’ ‘Bless the Harts’ adjust up, ’60 Minutes,’ ‘God Friended Me,’ ‘Madam Secretary’ adjust down: Sunday final ratings" (archived on Wayback Machine)
- ↑ Den of Geek - "The Simpsons Season 31 Episode 7 Review: Livin’ la Pura Vida"
- ↑ The A.V. Club - "A well-written Simpsons gives the family a satisfying vacation for a change"
- ↑ The Costa Rica Star - "VIDEO: D’oh The Simpsons Travel to Costa Rica"
- ↑ IMDb - "Writers Guild of America, USA 2020 Awards"
- ↑ IMDb - "Livin La Pura Vida"
Promo videos[edit]
"Literally smell ya later. 🥴 #TheSimpsons are on TONIGHT at 8/7c." on Twitter
The Simpsons Arrive In Paradise at YouTube- Homer & Marge Discuss The Cost Of Their Trip at YouTube
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Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "Livin La Pura Vida". |
