It won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Series.
Agent Bill Patterson is based on real-life FBI profiler John Douglas. Scully says Patterson wrote the book on profiling, and John Douglas literally wrote the book on profiling. Agent Nemhauser says the case nearly killed Patterson and Douglas did almost die from stress-related incidents. The character Holden Ford, played by Jonathan Groff, in Mindhunter (2017-2019) was also inspired by John Douglas, who co-authored the non-fiction book on which that series is based. Multiple episodes center around the psychological toll Ford's work takes on him, including causing panic attacks.
The producers originally planned to film the teaser sequence at a Catholic hospital, but the hospital was reluctant to affix a faux gargoyle to the building. Then the shot was relocated to Heritage Hall, a noted filming location and former post office in Vancouver. Some last minute scrambling was required when city workers tore up the sidewalk where the producers planned to film the scene. The construction crew reassured the show that the construction would be finished in time for filming. The work was finished two hours before shooting started.
Levani, in only his third American role, shaved his head and lost 10 pounds to play his demented character.