Carol says she understands Daryl’s determination to find Rick at all costs, saying if she didn’t have Ezekiel, Henry, and the Kingdom, she’d likely fall into such a state as well, foreshadowing her depression after the loss of Henry and the Kingdom.
Daryl’s first encounter with Leah in which she’s accosting him using a shotgun is more than a little reminiscent of Alpha doing the same to Luke and Alden in Season 9’s “Omega”.
The flashbacks start off two years after Rick’s apparent disappearance in Season 9’s “What Comes After”. RJ has been born, placing this after the events of “Scars”, Carol’s hair has started growing out, and Maggie has already departed west with Georgie as first mentioned in “Stradivarius”. By the end of the flashbacks, we begin approaching the rest of Season 9 as Carol mentions the Kingdom is facing hardship.
Daryl and Leah get a Ship Tease moment when they’re crowded together hiding using a tree, like Carl and Enid back in Season 5’s “Spend”.
Leah’s adopted sister died in childbirth, and Daryl’s face suggests he remembers the same fate befalling Lori in Season 3’s “Killer Within”.
Foreshadowing: Leah refers to her adopted family as her "squad", and her skillset also strongly indicates she is ex-military. Her insistence that Daryl choose between his family, his search for Rick, and her is also a bit on the toxic side. Season 11 will reveal that Leah is a loyal member of the Reapers, who are shown to be violent, evil Afghanistan war veterans who have a toxic holier than thou belief system.
Red Herring: The grave seen early in the episode outside Leah’s cabin is implied to be for Leah. Later in the episode it turns out that it’s actually for her adopted son.
Ship Sinking: Caryl shippers have it rough this episode since not only do we meet Daryl's first love interest who he still wants to find, he also makes it clear he's still very upset with Carol for causing Connie's disappearance and they have a bitter argument.
Shocking Defeat Legacy: Discussed. Carol says Hilltop’s fall was hard but manageable since the survivors at least fought to the end to try to save it, but coming back to Alexandria to find it trashed put a big dent in group morale.
Skyward Scream: When a storm destroys his painstakingly made map of the area he’s been searching for Rick’s body, Daryl screams in frustration a few times.
Wham Episode: While the episode is not very high stakes, Daryl and Carol’s friendship has suffered a serious blow as they have their first major on-screen fight.
