Showrunners J. H. Wyman and Jeff Pinkner wrote the episode as the "culmination of a lot of things that [they] had been working on for quite a while." Calling it one of their favorite episodes, they believed it was a good entry point for new viewers to the series. Frequent "Fringe" collaborator Brad Anderson returned to direct the episode. "Entrada" first aired on December 2, 2010 in the United States to an estimated 5.13 million viewers. It has been selected for "best episode" lists by various television critics. Both Anna Torv and John Noble submitted the episode for consideration at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards, but both failed to garner a nomination.