Elya Baskin (Alexander Orlov) previously played Yuri Demetri in A Prisoner of Conscience (1986) and Soft Touch (1987). He, Bruce McGill (the original Jack Dalton), and Michael Des Barres (the original Murdoc) are the only actors to appear in both MacGyver (1985) and MacGyver (2016).
Along with the principle characters of MacGyver, Dalton, and Thornton, there are two other characters in this episode that are based on characters from MacGyver (1986). Agent Bannister, played by Selena Anduze in this episode, was played by Michael Goodwin in a couple of episodes in the original series. Penny Parker, played by Bianca Malinowski in this episode, was played by Teri Hatcher in several episodes of the original series.
A Russian defector mistakenly accuses Mac (Lucas Till) of being a Russian agent. Lucas Till plays a Russian henchman in The Spy Next Door (2010).