This episode was directed by Edward James Olmos which was his directorial debut. Although Olmos never directed another Miami Vice episode, he would later direct several episodes of Battlestar Galactica (2004), in which he also starred.
As with the "Golden Triangle" two-parter, this episode both provides an insight into Castillo's background (we find out he is skilled with a Katana) and expands slightly upon his typically taciturn character (he goes so far as to crack a smile when meeting with Jack Gretsky). Such insights were rare and occurred infrequently throughout the series.
The story in fact ties in to Golden Triangle: Part 2 (1985) in more ways than one - when reunited with Gretsky, Castillo mentions that Gretsky was also involved in the ambush that decimated his anti-drug taskforce in Southeast Asia. This ambush was a plot point in "Golden Triangle (Part II)", wherein it was revealed that it had been set up by General Lao Li after he was tipped off by Dale Menton.
The portion of "Hello Earth" played is the choral section of the Georgian folk song "Tsintskaro" sung by The Richard Hickox Singers, during the scenes with Laura, Marty, Castillo, Surf, and the KGB operatives.
"Bushido" refers to the code of honour of the samurai warrior class in Japan. As Castillo mentions in the episode, literally translated, it means "the way of the warrior".