Guest star Harry Groener (the Nechani Magistrate) previously appeared as Tam Elbrun in Tin Man (1990) and would go on to appear as Minister Nathan Samuels in Demons (2005)/Terra Prime (2005).
This is the directorial debut for Robert Duncan McNeil (Tom Paris). He was called in to direct this episode at the last minute when the regular director bowed out. It is his lowest rated episode and all his other directorial Voyager episodes - all three of them where he directed - were above average. Johnathon Frakes (ST:TNG's commander Riker) had a conflict while shooting "First Contact" and could not direct this episode.
This takes place in 2373.