Tropes that appear in this episode:
- Actually Pretty Funny: At the end, Simmerson acknowledges that he's alive thanks to Sharpe, who snarkily quips back "We all make mistakes". Simmerson scowls and grumbles for a moment, before seeing the funny side and lapsing into a good humoured chuckle.
- Big Bad: Colonel Count Vladimir Dragomirov.
- Big Damn Heroes: Barabas returns in the nick of time with British cavalry to drive off Dragomirov's forces.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Dragomirov introduces himself as a friendly and professional officer who is just protecting his men from bandits; it later turns out that the "bandits" are actually local villagers and Dragomirov is actually a ruthless drug baron who has been terrorising the area and killing anyone who finds out about his criminal dealings.
- Ensign Newbie: Percival Beauclerc. Also counts as a Child Soldier (his actor was 15).
- Exposed to the Elements: Sir Henry Simmerson is found tied up naked in a fort.
- Fire-Forged Friends: Sharpe and Simmerson find themselves actually fighting the bad guys as part of the same unit, and after the battle, Simmerson is a good deal friendlier to Sharpe than ever before, actually shaking his hand and calling him "Richard".Harper: Now I've seen everything. Simmerson shaking you by the hand and calling you Richard.
- Frame-Up: Wormwood's men confess to helping him frame Barabas.
- Heroic Bastard: Barabas Hakeswill is nothing like his monstrous father Obadiah.
- Sins of Our Fathers: Sharpe happens to run into the bastard son of his late nemesis Hakeswill, currently under arrest for a theft he didn't commit. Sharpe beats the poor guy up until Harper stops him, but in the end Hakeswill Jr. saves the day and Sharpe and Harper's lives.
- Slashed Throat: Wormwood’s fate, courtesy of Harper.
- Snake Pit: Sharpe gets tied up in one of these by Dragomirov.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Sir Henry Simmerson, as a result of being left for dead and saved by Sharpe.
