Caleb Rivers, the name on the pill bottle found in Noa's mom's purse, is a reference to an original Pretty Little Liars character.
One of the characters works at a law firm called Strode, Prescott, Ripley associates. This references Laurie Strode from Halloween, Sidney Prescott from Scream, and Ellen Ripley from Alien -- three lead characters from horror films from the 1980s and '90s.
Tabitha's film studies teacher is named Mr. Smithee. This is a reference to "Allen Smithee," a placeholder name which the Directors Guild of America used when a director wished to have their name taken off of a project.
References are made to the film Hereditary (2018), in which Karen and Kelly's actress Mallory Bechtel appeared.
Creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa said he made the decision to only include male nudity and no female nudity to appeal to the show's core audience. He also felt female nudity is potentially offensive to women.