A meeting between Buffy and Angel takes place immediately before this episode (between the Carpe Noctem (2001) and Fredless (2001)). It is the subject of Jane Espenson's Buffy/Angel comic, Reunion. Though even in the comic we don't learn what happened at their meeting.
The two illustrations on the book of art history that Tara gives Buffy and the Slayer opens randomly are the portrait of Henry VIII Tudor, king of England, by Hans Holbein the Younger, and the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa of Avila, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Both baroque masterpieces.
Each of the Trio's attempts to ruin Buffy's day are symbolic of her lack of happiness since returning:
- At UCSD with Willow & Tara, everything around Buffy is moving too fast for her to comprehend, symbolizing her inability to keep up with college.
- At Xander's construction site, monsters attack her, symbolizing her male coworker's insults and misogynistic views of Buffy.
- At The Magic Box with Giles and Anya, the event with the Mummy's hand repeated itself, symbolizing the tedium and monotony of retail.
- With Spike at the bar, Buffy got too drunk, ruined the kitten poker game, and beat up a disguised demonic Jonathan, symbolizing her inability to fit in with the demon underworld.
Though it could have been inferred from previous episodes, the specialties of all of the Trio members are established; Warren's is technology, Andrew's is demon summoning, and Jonathan's is magic.
Although Andrew is confused about his sexuality, Tom Lenk is openly gay, so Warren's crack about homophobia was obviously meant as a sort of in-joke.