This episode is the first to focus on the new character Ezri Dax (played by Nicole de Boer), who was introduced in the first episode of the seventh season. A member of the Trill species, Ezri is the new host for the symbiotic lifeform previously carried by main character Jadzia Dax; Jadzia was killed at the end of the sixth season to make way for actress Terry Farrell to depart the show, and the Ezri character was written to replace her.
This episode introduces a new character, Ezri Dax, who replaces Jadzia Dax as the host of the symbiotic lifeform. This change is due to Jadzia's death at the end of the previous season, allowing for actress Terry Farrell to depart from the show.