Writer:	Drew Goddard, Steven S. DeKnight
Director:	Terrence O'Hara
Star:	David Boreanaz (Angel),  J. August Richards (Charles Gunn),  Andy Hallett (Lorne),  Amy Acker (Winifred "Fred" Burkle),  James Marsters (Spike),  Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce)
Guest Star:	Bart McCarthy (Nostroyev),  Camden Toy (Prince of Lies),  Mikey Day (O'Shea),  Matt Goodwin (Hodge),  Bradley Snedeker (Tyler),  Nick Spano (Spinelli),  Roy Werner (Heinreich),  Eyal Podell (Lawson),  Lindsey Ginter (Cmdr. Petrie),  Scott Klace (Initiative Man),  Joel Polis (Captain Franklin (uncredited))

This episode received a 3.8/5 in the Nielsen overnight ratings. (edit) This episode is the first (and last) time we see Spike with black hair. (edit) In the WWII flashback, Spike objects to being experimented on by the US government. Unforunately for Spike, this happens in season 4 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as the government-run Initiative put a nonagression chip in Spike's head. (edit) Angel vehemently says he isn't getting trapped at the bottom of the sea in the WWII flashbacks. Again, unfortunately for him, (just as in Spike's case) Angel was trapped at the bottom of the ocean at the end of season 3, when Connor betrayed him. (edit) The character Cmdr. Petrie is a possible reference to Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer writer Doug Petrie. (edit)

Lawson: We all need a reason to live, even if we're dead. Mom, apple pie, the Stars and Stripes... that was good enough for me. Until I met you. Then I had this whole creature-of-the-night thing going for me -- the joy of destruction and death -- and I embraced it. I did all the terrible things a monster does. Murdered women and children, tortured fathers and husbands just to hear them scream, and through it all, I felt nothing. Sixty years of blood drying in my throat like ashes. So what do you think? Is it me, Chief, or does everyone you sired feel this way? (edit) Angel: Spike
Spike: Captain
Angel: What?
Spike: I wanna be called Captain. I mean hell, I did eat him.
Angel: Check the torpedoes before I stuff you in a tube and send you for a swim, "Captain." (edit) Spike: Really ought to do something about security. They'll let anybody in here, won't they? Fred gave me the Cliff Notes. So sailor boy finally came back for a yo-ho-ho, did he?
Angel: Finally came back...
Spike: Took him long enough... I know revenge is a dish best served cold but his must've been frozen solid
Angel: I don't think that's what he was after.
Spike: No? Then what was he looking for?
Angel: A reason. (edit) Lawson: Come on chief, give me a mission.
(Angel stakes him) (edit) Angel: We need them. I'm not getting trapped at the bottom of the sea!
Spike: And I'm not getting experimented on by his government! (edit)

When showing the gang tied up and in nooses Lawson says they have double aught wire around their necks. Wire gauges get bigger as the numbers get smaller with 00 gauge being .365 inches in diameter. What is around their necks looks to be about 18 gauge which would strangle them and would make it hard to cut them down but is too thick to cut their necks like a garotte. (edit) Angel's language skills: This episode establishes that Angel is relatively fluent in German; previous episodes have shown that he speaks Russian, Romanian, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese (all at least on a conversational level) as well -- thus, Angel can communicate in at least seven human languages. (edit) SS man wearing black uniform: The SS man, a Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) is wearing a black uniform aboard the sub in 1943. A common Hollywood mistake: After the beginning of WW2 in September 1939, the regular SS began wearing grey uniforms. The black uniforms were only worn on special occasions, like public state funerals but not during regular duty. Then again, the black uniforms make their demonic side more visible at first glance in a film... ;) (edit) In "The Trial", Angel briefly entertains the idea of turning the dying Darla, with the theory that perhaps she'll keep her soul since he has one. This logic doesn't fly thanks to the existance of Lawson. (edit)

Lorne: You been to Skybar lately?
Skybar is a very trendy bar located in the Modrian Hotel in Los Angeles. Due to its amazing views of the city, and its location right on the Sunset Strip, it was a hot nightlife spot since its opening, but many believe that it has dropped in quality in recent years (as Lorne implies in this comment). (edit) Spike: Fred gave me the Cliffs-notes.

Cliffs-notes makes study guides and summary books of texts for students. (edit) Spike: Yeah let me know how that works out for you, Popeye.
Popeye the Sailor is a famous comic strip character. He gains strength by eating spinach. (edit) Hodge: He's some sort of super soldier like Steve Rogers, or Captain America.
Steve Rogers aka Captain America was a comic book hero introduced during World War II. He was a genetically altered super soldier who fought the likes of Nazis, Japanese and other threats to America during the war. (edit) Title: Why We Fight
This episode is themed around Spike and Angel's past in World War II involving the Nazis, the title of this episode "Why We Fight" is also the exact same title of episode nine of the series "Band of Brothers" based around the American 101st Airborne regiment Easy Company fighting the Nazis in Europe during World War II. (edit)