Ep 1. When the Wall Comes Tumbling Down

In the season 16 premiere of Hell's Kitchen titled "When the Wall Comes Tumbling Down," 18 contestants arrive at the restaurant and are greeted by Chef Gordon Ramsay, who informs them that they will be competing in the "Battle of the Sexes," splitting the group into two teams of nine based on their gender. The women are named the Red Team, while the men are named the Blue Team.

In their first challenge, the two teams are tasked with making their signature dishes for Chef Ramsay and guest judge Marino Monferrato, the executive chef at one of Los Angeles' top Italian restaurants, Il Grano. The teams have 45 minutes to prepare their dishes, and while some contestants excel, others struggle with timing and execution. In the end, Marino declares the Blue Team's dishes the winners and they are granted access to the competition's new "Secret Ingredient" advantage.

The second challenge involves the teams having to break down a wall separating them from their food station and ingredients. The Blue Team utilizes their Secret Ingredient to gain an early lead, but the Red Team manages to catch up and later surpass them. However, both teams encounter difficulties during service, with multiple mistakes and undercooked dishes. Chef Ramsay becomes increasingly frustrated with both teams and eventually shuts down the service, sending everyone back to the dorms.

The next day, Chef Ramsay announces that he will be conducting individual evaluations of each contestant and sends them to various locations within the Los Angeles area to taste and analyze different dishes. The challenge allows Chef Ramsay to evaluate each contestant's palate and ability to identify key ingredients in a dish. Later, the contestants arrive back at Hell's Kitchen to find out who among them will be up for elimination.

At the elimination ceremony, the Blue Team nominates one member for elimination, while the Red Team nominates two, causing tension between the teammates. In the end, Chef Ramsay calls forth the three nominees and ultimately decides who will be sent home.

Overall, the season 16 premiere of Hell's Kitchen is filled with drama, tension, and high stakes as the contestants make their debut and face their first set of challenges. Viewers are left wondering who will rise to the challenge and who will be sent packing in the highly competitive and intense environment of Chef Gordon Ramsay's kitchen.