This episode was filmed before Touched (2003), even though it aired after, because Eliza Dushku needed time to film her pilot for Tru Calling (2003). This is why Faith spends most of the episode recovering in bed.
When Dawn and Xander are in the car looking for her crossbow, she mentions that she doesn't leave it around ever since an incident with Miss Kitty Fantastico, Willow and Tara's cat, which has not been seen since the end of the fifth season.
This is the first time Buffy and Angel have met face to face since their off-screen meeting between the events of Flooded (2001)/Carpe Noctem (2001) and Life Serial (2001)/Fredless (2001).
The concept of the Scythe was previously and originally created for Joss Whedon's comic series Fray.
This line from Willow was cut: "It doesn't have any markings. Would it be so hard to include a little sticker? 'Hello. My name is Blank of the Blankthuselah, consult operating instruction before wielding'."