Nora Wyman has the same birthday as Jessica's late father, Tilo Franz, who was the inspiration for this story. She has also lost her mother to cancer a year prior and was able to pull a lot from her own life. According to her own statements, playing Chew was a cathartic experience, where she was able to expose her grief in a safe environment.
Hunter Garner spent months preparing his role as a paraplegic. He met with Xander Mozejewski, the inspiration for the role, several times to understand the profound life changes his accident created.
The last week before shooting, Hunter Garner spent entirely in his wheelchair, including public appearances and restaurant visits. He says, seeing how different wheelchair users are treated, was a life-changing realization.
Make-up artist Saori Nakada spent a lot of time perfecting the prosthetics. Her tracheotomy scar looked so real, the DP pulled her aside, wondering if they should "cover Hunter's neck scar up". All props in Dan's apartment, including catheter and urinary bag, are actual products Jessica's paraplegic friend Xander uses.
When Hunter auditioned for the role, he was immediately comfortable in a wheelchair and did "wheelies" (lifting the seat on the wheels), due to his month-long use of a wheelchair after a serious injury years prior.