The title references numerous things. It refers to "Afterlife" "before" they would eventually interact with anyone there because the episode takes place in 1983 and also refers to Yo-Yo's personal dilemma as she finally reflects on her childhood and what has been keeping her powers down.
Ming-Na Wen is known for voicing Mulan in Mulan (1998). Dianne Doan, who portrayed Kora, also portrayed Mulan's daughter Lonnie in Descendants (2015).
Guest stars Dichen Lachman and Enver Gjokaj, who do not share any scenes in this episode, starred together in the TV series Dollhouse (2009).
Guest stars Dichen Lachman (Jiaying) and Byron Mann (Li) appeared as sort-of siblings in Altered Carbon (2018).