Flashback scenes of Brunelle demanding Holmes's help were inserted into the timelines of three past episodes: Dead Clade Walking (2014), Bella (2014), Down Where the Dead Delight (2016). Garments and other props used in those episodes were recreated for these brief scenes.
This episode is a loose reference to The Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. Between 2011 and 2012, 3000 tonnes of maple syrup was stolen from a storage facility operated by the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers. The stolen maple syrup was estimated to cost 18.7 million dollars.
The assault happened on January 29, 2012 and this episode aired on January 29th, 2017, exactly 5 years after the assault. Also the date when the statue of limitations expires for assault.
Similar premise to Last Resort (2008) where a man takes hostages in order to force Doctor House to diagnose his illness.