The infant Jem'Hadar appears quite human, and only develops the traditional scaly appearance as he matures. In an interview, make-up artist Michael Westmore explained that was because there were restrictions that forbid applying glue or makeup to an infant. A small prosthetic was applied to the infant actor's forehead with KY jelly, which was easily removed after filming.
Director/star Avery Brooks saw this episode as something of a metaphorical study of racial tension and gang culture. According to Brooks: "For me, it was very much a story about young brown men, and, to some extent, a story about a society that is responsible for the creation of a generation of young men who are feared, who are addicted, who are potential killers."
Although Jake frequently mentions Mardah as the object of his affection, this is the only time she appears.
Leslie Bevis makes her second appearance as Rionoj, the Boslic freighter captain, in this episode. She previously appeared in the season 2 episode The Homecoming (1993) and would later appear in the season 4 finale Broken Link (1996), where her character would be named.