This episode marks the first use of the Craig Panorama Model 212 tape recorder, which made many repeat appearances throughout the series. It was cheap (retailing for under $25.00), durable and relatively advanced for its time. It featured both built-in and remote microphones and two tape speeds. Its use on Mission: Impossible made it very popular, and it continues to be a collectors' item to this day, largely fueled by M:I nostalgia.
This is the first episode in which the IMF works without being "assigned" by the Secretary. Despite consequently lacking a message-drop scene, the episode has Briggs seen picking a team in the usual manner. Strangely, he selects only Rollin Hand, Dr. Ira Green (previously seen in "Operation Rogosh" and subsequently mentioned in "A Cube of Sugar") and Steve, but Cinnamon, Barney and Willy are all also present in Dan's apartment and take part in the operation.
Despite the description listed, this is not the only episode where the team operates without an assignment. In Season 2, The Town, the team is also drawn into an improvised "mission" with no assignment.
This is the first instance in which the team confronts members of a domestic criminal "syndicate".
U.S.S. Enterprise personnel from Star Trek (1966) are well represented among the bit players in this episode, including Michael Barrier who played Lt. Commander DeSalle in three episodes of the classic sci-fi series' first season; Don Marshall who would portray Lt. Boma in the "Trek" episode The Galileo Seven (1967); and Eddie Paskey who as Lt. Leslie (and often as a stand-in for star William Shatner) would appear in more "Star Trek" episodes than most of the main regulars of the original series--Paskey appearing in a total of three episodes of "Mission: Impossible," the other two being the original Pilot (1966) and The Carriers (1966), the latter also featuring as a guest member of the IMF team "Trek" colleague George Takei.