-
Joss Whedon wanted the first "Anya" scene in 880 to be shot like a really bad movie. The director was able to throw all the rules out the window.
-
The name "Aud" was found during research. There was a viking king who was named "Olaf" and he had a wife named "Aud". Apparently she was known for her sense of humor and ability to manage money well.
-
The first scene after the credits, that is spoken in swedish, was originally going to be dubbed over in english so that the actors wouldn't have to learn everything word for word. However, the two actors, Emma Caulfield and Abraham Benrubi, went ahead and learned 5 pages of Swedish. The director thought that it was so funny listening to them speak that they no longer wanted it to be dubbed over.
-
The "dead frat boys" scene and story line was the idea of creator Joss Whedon.
-
This episode is eleventh in Joss Whedon's list of his top ten favorite episodes (which is more of a top twelve episode list) according to his personal letter included in the Australian Chosen Collection Box-set. The episodes on this top "ten" list are not ranked, but are put in order of which episode aired first.
-
Sarah Michelle Gellar was only available for three days of this episode's shoot due to her wedding to Freddie Prinze Jr.
-
Buffy has not changed her views in declaring that she is the law. When it comes to the demon world, she alone has the power to make decisions because she is the slayer and there's only one (in theory). In Season 3, Faith thinks that she has the right to put herself above the law in the HUMAN world, which Buffy disagrees with. Since Anya is a demon now, the laws of the human world do not pertain to her, so it is up to Buffy to "be the law."
-
Drew Goddard wanted to call the episode, appropriately enough, "Anya."
-
According to the DVD commentary the Russia (1905) scene was initially set to take place during the Renaissance - but that was changed, so it wouldn't interfere with the Halfrek/Cecily connection.
-
The flashback to 'Once More with Feeling' is similar to the placement of the Christmas dinner flashback in 'The Body'. The flashback is followed by Anya looking like she's dead, like Buffy's mother was shown to be dead in 'The Body'.
-
The BBC's cutting of this episode, for early evening purposes, was so ham-fisted that Rachel's ordeal was made to look like gang rape, rather than ritual humiliation.
-
Anya's "lame-ass, made-up, maiden-name" is first mentioned in Season 5's 'Checkpoint'.
-
This marks the final appearance of Kali Rocha as "Halfrek" and Andy Umberger as "D'Hoffryn" on the series.
-
Apparently, Willow hung onto the talisman that D'Hoffryn gave her back in season 4's 'Something Blue'.
-
Buffy stands firm against Xander and declares "I am the Law". In season 3's "Consequences" she is rather dismissive (and evasive) of Faith's argument when Faith says "We don't need the law - we ARE the law". This is not only another subtle 'coming full circle / back to the beginning' reference, but also shows how Buffy walks a fine line between good and evil.
-
The wedding dress Anya wears in the flashback of "Mrs" is the same that as in last seasons 'Hell's Bells'.
-
The song in the "Once More With Feeling" flashback is called "Mrs", which was written in one night by Joss Whedon.
-
Marti Noxon and David Fury reprise their roles as "Ticket Lady" and "Mustard Guy" during the flashback to 'Once More With Feeling'
-
Anya's real name was Aud.
-
In the flashback, human Olaf makes a comment about troll logic, similar to that of Xander's comment in "Triangle" and Buffy's comment in the later episode "Conversations with Dead People".
-
There is a reference to 'Becoming (2)' when Buffy reminds Xander about when he said "kick his ass" referring to 'Willow's' advice to Buffy. Willow, of course, never said that.