In this episode, Trip/Connor Trinneer becomes the only Enterprise officer/cast member to wear all three colours of uniform. As chief engineer, he wears the red engineering stripes on his uniform. In this episode, he wears the gold command uniform when he is promoted to captain. He previously wore a blue science uniform in Season 1's "Acquisition".

This episode was chosen as the Best Enterprise episode in a Viewer's Choice poll conducted by UPN. It was reaired on April 8, 2005.

This episode has some similarities to the DS9 episode "The Visitor".

After Earth's destruction by the Xindi weapon, the remnants of humanity gathered on Ceti Alpha V. In the Original Series episode "Space Seed", Ceti Alpha V is the planet where Captain Kirk leaves Khan Noonien Singh, Lieutenant Marla McGivers and the rest of the augments from the S.S. Botany Bay. This planet also features prominently in the 1982 movie sequel Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

This episode is also similar to the TNG episode "Future Imperfect", where Riker wakes up 16 years into the future with no memory.