Donovan Lamb is a fictional character but based on the real story by Jessica Pressler that featured Muhammad Islam and Damir Tulemaganbetov, who falsified information that led her to believe they had a net worth over $72 million dollars. The incident cost Pressler an offer with Bloomberg in the investigative news division. Jessica Pressler is the case study for Vivian, and what she had gone through. Damir and Muhammad had produced documents that led her to believe they were being truthful.
Disgraced former hedge fund manager and convicted felon, Martin Shkreli, is portrayed here by Will Stephen dining with Anna and her friends at New York's Le Coucou French restaurant.
One of two episodes to be directed by cinematographer Ellen Kuras, first woman to win the ASC (American Society of Cinematographers) "Lifetime Achievement Award" (2022).
Vivian jokingly refers to Anna as Hannibal Lector. Anna Chlumsky was on the show "Hannibal".