The title of this episode (We Light the Way) is the motto of House Hightower.
The scene in which Alicent notably wears a green dress to the wedding feast of Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon, is where the name of her faction in the war (the Greens) comes from. In the book "Fire & Blood" this occurs at a tournament celebrating the wedding.
This episode marks the first appearance of Rhaenys's dragon Meleys, nicknamed the Red Queen. Rhaenys can be seen riding her she-dragon alongside her son Laenor on his dragon Seasmoke when the Velaryons arrive at King's Landing.
Joffrey Lonmouth's death at the hands of Criston Cole differs significantly from the novel: in the novel, Joffrey was fatally injured by Criston in a tourney joust and died several days afterwards, as opposed to the show where Christon beats him to death at Rhaenyra's wedding feast.
In the scene set inside the castle High Tide, the Velaryon's home on the island of Driftmark, there are many references to Corlys Velaryon's "Nine Voyages", most notable of which is the name of his great hall, "The Hall of Nine".