This show marks a major change in Wo Fat's character, because during the winter of 1972 the United States Government had significantly thawed the relationship with Communist China. Premier Chou En-Lai, a practical man, had decided that China could not live in isolation from all other countries and could not count on help from neighbors of any significance. So he reached out a welcoming hand to American President Richard Nixon, who accepted it and began to pave the way toward the countries establishing limited trade relations and making the first steps toward diplomatic relations. To Wo Fat, who had done everything he could to undermine the United States, this action was little short of a betrayal of his Maoist principles (even though Chairman Mao Zedong went along with Chou). In this show and the three which follow, Wo Fat increasingly operates as an independent crime boss who is glad to attack "capitalist-roader" Chinese as well as Americans. By the finale in "Woe to Wo Fat," he is completely isolated and running a fantasized "uncharted desert isle" country to sell a killer laser to any takers.
During the test-firing gun scene in the lab, smoke can be seen coming out of Harry Endo's mouth when he is speaking. He was asked about this at a Hawaii Five-O Convention, and said that he never smoked and he doubted that the room was that cold.
When Wo Fat is in McGarrett's office after being captured, he remarks: "I suppose I should be grateful for the abolition of capital punishment," referring to a June 30, 1972 decision by the United States Supreme Court which struck down all death-penalty laws as unconstitutional (later rulings restored it). But Hawaii as a state never had the death penalty. Wo Fat would have to have been tried in a Federal court to get a death sentence.
The helicopter used to transport Mc Garrett to and from Diamond Head is a Bell 47J. The Bell 47J was also known as the Bell Ranger. It was the successor to the 47D2 used other times by HPD as well as the 47G. The 47J differs in that it has an enclosed tail boom. It is the predecessor to the still popular and versatile Bell 206 JetRanger.