This is the first of five TNG episodes that served to set up the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) central storyline. The next episode is Ensign Ro (1991), followed by a reference in Unification I (1991), and finally Chain of Command, Part I (1992) & Chain of Command, Part II (1992).
Michael Westmore based the Cardassian look on an abstract painting he had seen two years earlier of a wide-shouldered woman with what appeared to be a spoon in the center of her forehead.
Marc Alaimo plays the Cardassian Gul Macet. He would later go on to play the recurring character of Gul Dukat on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993).
This is the first appearance of the Cardassians, who would later feature in several more ST:TNG story arcs and be one of the main alien races in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993).
This is the only incident in which Cardassian military officers are seen wearing any kind of headgear. That piece of their uniform was dropped in all other episodes involving the Cardassians in the Star Trek Universe.