This episode builds on the humanization of the character of Gul Dukat which began in The Maquis, Part II (1994) from the second season and continued in the third season episode Civil Defense (1994). In "Defiant", Dukat is saddened about missing his son's birthday, and his interpretation of what that will mean to his son in future years is uncharacteristically honest. This softening of his character continues up to the fifth season episode By Inferno's Light (1997).
The large Cardassian view screen seen many times in this episode is actually a miniature designed by Gary Hutzel and built by Tony Meininger. The shots of Sisko standing in front of the screen were composite shots of the miniature and actor Avery Brooks in front of a blue screen.
This episode bears some parallels to The Wounded (1991) (which marked the first appearance of the Cardassians in the Star Trek franchise). In both episodes, the lead character (Picard/Sisko) must temporarily team up with some Cardassians to track the movements of a rogue Starfleet ship that is attacking Cardassian ships, and the commanding officer of the rogue ship (Maxwell/Thomas Riker) is eventually persuaded to stand down by someone aboard his own ship (O'Brien/Kira). Marc Alaimo, despite playing two different roles (Gul Macet and Gul Dukat), has a similar position in both stories.
Shannon Cochran reprises her role as Kalita from Preemptive Strike (1994). She would next be seen on Deep Space Nine as Sirella in the sixth season.