Ep 15. Blame it on Lisa

In The Simpsons season 13 episode 15, titled "Blame it on Lisa," the Simpson family travels to Brazil to participate in a Habitat for Humanity-like program. After arriving, Lisa decides to sponsor a young orphaned boy named Ronaldo, who she hopes to help by bringing him to her town in the United States. However, when Ronaldo goes missing after Lisa returns home, she goes on a quest to find him and ends up uncovering a suspicious plot involving the Brazilian government and a telecom company.

The episode opens with the Simpson family arriving in Brazil and being welcomed by a parade of locals. Homer is ecstatic to be in an exotic location with free booze, and Marge is pleased to be helping others. Lisa, on the other hand, is appalled by the poverty she witnesses in Brazil and hits it off with Ronaldo when she meets him while volunteering at a local orphanage. She decides to sponsor Ronaldo and take him back to the U.S. with her so she can provide him with a better life.

However, when the Simpson family returns home, Ronaldo is nowhere to be found. Lisa tries contacting him, but her calls go unanswered. She eventually tracks down his cell phone number and speaks to him, but he tells her he is being held against his will and needs her help.

Lisa jets back to Brazil, accompanied by Homer, who is enjoying his own adventure in the country, and they begin investigating Ronaldo's disappearance. They discover that he was taken by authorities who suspect he was involved in a theft, even though they have no evidence against him. Lisa and Homer seek out the police to free Ronaldo, but they are rebuffed at every turn.

Meanwhile, back in the U.S., Marge tries to soothe Lisa's anxiety by sharing a Brazilian soap opera she has become obsessed with. In an eerily similar plot, Marge realizes that the characters in the show are discussing the very telecom company that has ties to Ronaldo's disappearance in real life. She shares her findings with Lisa and Homer, who use this information to confront the telecom company's CEO and extract Ronaldo from captivity.

In the end, the Simpson family reunites with Ronaldo, who is grateful for Lisa's help and decides to return to the orphanage instead of going with her to the U.S. Lisa is heartbroken but understands Ronaldo's decision, and the Simpson family returns home, changed by their experiences in Brazil.

"Blame it on Lisa" tackles issues of poverty, corruption, and cultural differences in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The episode is a standout in season 13 and remains a fan favorite for its poignant message about the importance of helping others, no matter where they come from.