It is revealed that MacGyver has no family left except his grandfather.
When MacGyver blows up the reactor plant, the shots are from the Rock Hudson/George Peppard film "Tobruk".
John Anderson (Harry Jackson) who plays MacGyver's grandfather, is only 27 years, 3 months and 3 days older than Richard Dean Anderson in real life. The two actors are not related.
It is implied that MacGyver works for, or takes assignments from, Department of Defense, since his internal monologue reveals he went to Middle East because Washington asked him to. Also, a suit called Barney pays him a visit and says, "The department is grateful", and "I'm not offering you an assignment."
MacGyver can been seen wearing a Calgary Flames (Canadian hockey team) baseball cap. He is wearing it while driving in the car with his grandfather on their way up to the cabin.