A waitress from a trendy New York restaurant is sexually assaulted at an after-hours VIP party.A waitress from a trendy New York restaurant is sexually assaulted at an after-hours VIP party.A waitress from a trendy New York restaurant is sexually assaulted at an after-hours VIP party.
- Sergeant Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola
- (as Ice T)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode was directed by former "Chicago Fire" star Monica Raymund who appeared in crossovers with SVU before. This was her first episode to direct of Law & Order: SVU and looks to direct another in the second half of the season.
- GoofsThe sexual assault against Bethany cannot be prosecuted because the statute of limitations had expired by the time it was reported. Bethany stated that she was held down while her attacker forced his hand down her shorts and panties and fondled her vulva, then as he tried to pull her shorts down she was able to get out from under him and ran off. These actions constitute sexual abuse in the first degree, since it happened to Bethany while she was a minor she had to report it within five years of her 18th birthday. The only sex crimes in New York that have no statute of limitations are rape in the first degree and criminal sexual act in the first degree.
- Quotes
Amanda Rollins: Oh, my feet have not hurt this bad since I waited tables.
Olivia Benson: I had no idea. When did you wait tables?
Amanda Rollins: Oh, I was sixteen. Aunt Betty's Cabin. Best chicken-fried steak you've ever had. You know, truth be told, none of this culinary grab-ass surprises me.
Olivia Benson: You were assaulted.
Amanda Rollins: Well, one of my regulars wanted a little extra sugar with his coffee. Instead he ended up with a raw steak on his eye.
Olivia Benson: Good for you.
- SoundtracksThe 4 Seasons: Violin Concerto in F Major
Performed by Massimo Quarta
Played during the opening scene in the kitchen
My mixed feelings on "Hell's Kitchen" are pretty much the same and for the same reasons, positive and negative. Most of the previous episodes have had the pattern of one half being better than the other, the only one for it to not be the case really being "Man Up". And usually with the previous episodes it's been the first half that has been superior (vastly superior in a couple of cases). "Hell's Kitchen" does have good things and is not terrible, there is just not much that is amazing and the quality again is uneven.
"Hell's Kitchen" has good things certainly. First and foremost, the production values are fine, have always liked the photography's intimacy and grit and the look of the show has come on a good deal over-time (and it was good to begin with). The music doesn't intrude and has a haunting quality, have not always remembered to say that the theme tune is easy to remember and holds up.
Luckily, the regular acting is superior than it was in the previous episode. Mariska Hargitay certainly has a good deal more energy than she did in "Caretaker" and in a few previous seasons, she has been hit and miss for a few seasons but she was fine here. There is a great scene between Olivia and Stone outside the courthouse, it is the most that Stone has made any kind of impression up to this point.
Like most of the previous Season 20 episodes, "Hell's Kitchen" starts off very well, with a lot of intrigue and tension. This is also the first proper time this time where Olivia has not irked me in some shape or form, which was good.
However, "Hell's Kitchen" could have been a good deal better. It is another case of an episode to start off well but drop the ball too early. Too much of the story as well is too obvious and the legal case is far too thin from too little evidence. There is also too much focus on the ripped from the headlines aspect and with it being so closely indebted to the case it is ripped from it felt too sensationalist and that so much of the second half is too predictable as a result takes away from any suspense.
Furthermore, there is quite a lot of cliched over-heated dialogue whileStone is still too one dimensional and the constant ramming down the throat reminder of his sister's death has gotten tired when it has been executed in such an inconsistent manner the entire season.
Concluding, very mixed here. 5/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 22, 2023