The title of this episode is a reference to the subtitle of the J.R.R. Tolkien novel The Hobbit, or There and Back Again.
This is the first season finale and first two-part special overall that does not revolve around Twilight or all of the ponies.
Starting this episode, Trixie's eyes are redesigned to share the same double catchlights like most other ponies, and her eyelashes now face independently and are curly.