Early-Bird Cameo: Sam makes his first appearance among a group of mercenaries in the opening, although he isn't named and doesn't say anything, with his name and characterization not being established until during the next couple episodes.
Harmful to Minors: Mike's father pushes him out the way of one of the Kraken's descending tentacles, getting smashed right in front of him with a splatter of his blood hitting Mike in the face. As the beast shifts its tentacles to get a better grip, the gory pulped remains are fully exposed to Mike just off-camera, driving him into lashing out at the tentacles in a hysterical rage.
Pop-Cultural Osmosis Failure: When Annie describes the creature that sunk her ship as being bigger than her dog, Charlie asks her if her dog is Clifford. Annie doesn't get the reference.
