The subplot involves Hester-Sue Terhune frostily fending off Joe Kagan's flirtations. The first appearance of the actress (Ketty Lester) in the series was in the previous season in The Fighter (1977), in which she played Kagan's wife in a flashback.
On the journey to Walnut Grove, there's a prominent scene featuring a beautiful landscape with granite snow-peaked mountains, even though there are no such mountains in any area of Minnesota.
When Albert (Matthew Labyorteaux) has the pipe in his mouth, Laura tells him that he looks like he's 10, to which Albert replies "I am ten". This episode aired just four days before Matthew Labyorteaux's 12th birthday.
Richard Bull (Nels) breaks the fourth wall when he says "I'd kill her" referring to Harriet, after Jonathan asks if he misses her that much in response to Nels saying he wished she were there.