This episode introduced three new studio models to the series: the new four-foot miniature of the Enterprise-D, the Romulan scout ship and the second D'deridex-class model. All three can be seen during the stand-off scene during the first act.
The original large scale model of the Enterprise D, created for the pilot, was six feet long. Its size made it difficult to work with, and it was decided to create a new, four-foot model, which appears for the first time in this episode. The new model had greater surface detail, and was much easier to work with. There were a number of subtle changes to the ship, including the addition of a row of windows on the leading edge of the saucer to match the location of Ten Forward.
This marks the first Star Trek appearance of James Sloyan (as Alidar Jarok) who was to be a prolific Trek actor. He appears in TNG again as K'mtar in Mariolga Ramos, and as the title character in Jetrel (1995), but his largest role was as Odo's "father", Doctor Mora Pol, appearing in The Alternate (1994) and The Begotten (1997).
Episode begins with Data rehearsing a scene from William Shakespeare's Henry V, while being watched by Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart. In the scene, the part of Michael Williams (being acted by a holodeck construct) is also played by Patrick Stewart, under heavy makeup. In this situation, Picard followed the lead of King Henry and walked among his troops, as it were. It is notable that only Bates, the one other character in the scene, is credited at the end of the episode.