Barry Van Dyke and Dirk Benedict would both appear in the Battlestar Galactica series
The Bend in the River was clearly shot as part of Season 2. It's the only Season 3 episode featuring the Tawnia Baker character from Season 2, and also has a Season 2 style opening, lacking the new "preview" opening of the other Season 3 episodes. Also flashbacks from Bend in the River feature in earlier episodes from Season 2.
This two-hour TV movie is usually shown as two parts in syndication.
In later years Dwight Schultz would say that he disliked this episode.