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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Taken

  • Episode aired Dec 15, 2000
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 43m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
732
YOUR RATING
S2.E8
  • S2
  • E8
All episodes
All
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ice-T and Richard Belzer in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
When a young female reports a brutal rape during a hotel's grand opening, the police investigates the details of the attack to pin down their suspect, who has a prior conviction for statutor... Read allWhen a young female reports a brutal rape during a hotel's grand opening, the police investigates the details of the attack to pin down their suspect, who has a prior conviction for statutory rape.When a young female reports a brutal rape during a hotel's grand opening, the police investigates the details of the attack to pin down their suspect, who has a prior conviction for statutory rape.
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
732
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michael Fields
  • Writers
    • Dick Wolf
    • Dawn DeNoon(executive story editor)
    • Lisa Marie Petersen(executive story editor)
  • Stars
    • Christopher Meloni
    • Mariska Hargitay
    • Richard Belzer
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Fields
  • Writers
    • Dick Wolf
    • Dawn DeNoon(executive story editor)
    • Lisa Marie Petersen(executive story editor)
  • Stars
    • Christopher Meloni
    • Mariska Hargitay
    • Richard Belzer
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    Christopher Meloni
    Christopher Meloni
    • Elliot Stableras Elliot Stabler
    Mariska Hargitay
    Mariska Hargitay
    • Olivia Bensonas Olivia Benson
    Richard Belzer
    Richard Belzer
    • John Munchas John Munch
    Stephanie March
    Stephanie March
    • Alexandra Cabotas Alexandra Cabot
    Ice-T
    Ice-T
    • Odafin Tutuolaas Odafin Tutuola
    Dann Florek
    Dann Florek
    • Donald Cragenas Donald Cragen
    Jenna Lamia
    Jenna Lamia
    • Siobhan Milleras Siobhan Miller
    Derek Cecil
    Derek Cecil
    • Russell Ramsayas Russell Ramsay
    Tim Hopper
    Tim Hopper
    • Terry Wildeas Terry Wilde
    Harvey Atkin
    Harvey Atkin
    • Alan Ridenouras Alan Ridenour
    Bill Winkler
    Bill Winkler
    • Beau Milleras Beau Miller
    Nealy Glenn
    • Patricia Ann Milleras Patricia Ann Miller
    Richard Ziman
    • Winstonas Winston
    Brian Connors
    Brian Connors
    • Mr. Tupperas Mr. Tupper
    Craig Braun
    Craig Braun
    • Allen Thorpeas Allen Thorpe
    Ismail Bashey
    Ismail Bashey
    • Dr. Dharas Dr. Dhar
    Louis Carbonneau
    Louis Carbonneau
    • CSU Techas CSU Tech
    • (as Lou Carbonneau)
    Michelle Daimer
    • Ramsay PDas Ramsay PD
    • Director
      • Michael Fields
    • Writers
      • Dick Wolf
      • Dawn DeNoon(executive story editor)
      • Lisa Marie Petersen(executive story editor)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A deleted scene shows Olivia meeting her father, a man named Robert Spencer, who went to grad school with her mother. He claimed to be unsure whether his sex with Serena Benson was consensual or not. Eventually this was changed to the original story line of a stranger rape.
    • Goofs
      The "state of the art digitized deck" they use to view the security tape from the hotel only has a power cable plugged into it, no cable to connect it to the TV.
    • Quotes

      John Munch: There should be a special level of hell for this pus-sucking, gangrenous malignancy of a mental amoeba.

      Capt. Donald Cragen: Did somebody steal your parking space again?

    User reviews3

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Hotel scandal
    Was very impressed overall by the standard of the previous episodes, the best being as good as the best of Season 1 (which is a big compliment, being somebody who thinks highly overall of that season). The exception though was the previous episode "Asunder", which was decent and had its moments but for me it was somewhat bland and run of the mill and doesn't do enough with a type of case that doesn't interest me as much as others.

    "Taken" however was a big improvement. Not quite as good as "Closure Part 2", "Legacy" and "Baby Killer", all three among the best of Season 2 and outstanding episodes though admittedly harder watches, but it is still great with pretty much everything done brilliantly. It has the tension that was missing in "Asunder", has one of the more interesting victims and has a story full of surprises. It also has a fair share of emotion and fans of Munch will be in heaven.

    Is it quite one of the all-time great 'Special Victims Unit' episodes? Not quite. There is actually not really anything wrong with it as such. If to be nit-picky, the beginning is not quite as taut as the rest of the episode.

    Other than that, "Taken" is classic 'Special Victims Unit' and what the show is all about. The story always absorbs and is full of twists and turns, all surprising. The ending left me floored on first viewing, still does and fills me with sadness and anger. One doesn't expect it at all. It is one of the classic examples of 'Special Victims Unit' to make one feel sorry for the accuser and by the end really hating that the victim is not what she seems and is quite amoral. The closest that the previous episodes came to having that effect was Season 1's "Disrobed", that also shocked me except we found out quite a bit later here.

    Furthermore, there is emotional impact in "Taken". Really did feel sorry for Olivia, what a horrible situation she had to endure, yet still persevered which makes one admire her but feel concerned at the same time. The very end is tragic and makes one feel angry too. It is great to see more of Munch and when he has more screen time he often makes the episode even better, that's the case here as he stops the episode from being too over-serious without dominating too much. The chemistry is spot on.

    Production values are slick and more refined than in the previous season and the music avoids being over-dramatic. The script is taut and is neither too simple or muddled and the story absorbs throughout. All the acting is very good, with Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer and Jenna Lamia standing out.

    Concluding, great episode. 9/10
    helpful•8
    1
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Mar 18, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 15, 2000 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Wolf Films
      • Studios USA Television
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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