The term "patrolling" is first used. Prior to this, Buffy's graveyard exploits are referred to as hunting. Furthermore, this marks the first time that she patrols with no specific purpose. From this point on, she will patrol nightly.
In his DVD commentary, writer/director David Greenwalt says that when he wrote it, he thought that he had invented a great demon name, Machida. He later realized that he had been inspired by the word Makita, which he had seen written on the drills carried by the show's grips.
Although Cordelia tells Buffy "Don't wear black, silk, chiffon or spandex: these are my trademarks," Buffy shows up in a little black dress.
In "A Buffy Bestiary," a special features video packaged with the Season Two DVD set, Marti Noxon acknowledged the "phallic imagery" and confessed, "Yes, it's a metaphor."