This is the fifth time Clint Howard has played a role in a Star Trek series. The Corbomite Maneuver (1966), Past Tense, Part II (1995), Acquisition (2002), Will You Take My Hand? (2018), and this.
The uncomfortable dinner with the Klingon diplomat is very similar to Star Trek VI, in which the Enterprise crew have a diplomatic dinner with Klingons after Kirk privately admits to hating them because a Klingon murdered his son.
Clint Howard's character (Buck Martinez) shares his name with the Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster and retired major league catcher/manager.
This episode is very similar in style to the MASH tv series.