The poem Annie attempts to recite to console George (Russell Tovey) over his father's apparent death is Funeral Blues (1938), by W.H. Auden. It gained popularity as a funeral reading after it was featured at the eponymous funeral in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). Unfortunately Annie (Lenora Crichlow) doesn't make it too far into the poem before an unintentional diversion into the lyrics for the Cheryl song Fight for This Love.
The flashback to Mitchell (Aidan Turner) and Herrick (Jason Watkins)'s antics in a 1933 Paris hotel room (punchline - "tomb service!") is a callout to way back in series 1, episode 5. In that episode, Herrick relates the incident as an anecdote to his fellow vampires at the undertaker's after Mitchell returns to the vampire fold.
Music:
- What is This Thing Called Love, by Sidney Bechet (1941 single)
- Fight for This Love, by Cheryl, from the album 3 Words (2009)
- Ball of Fire, by Ernest Ranglin, from the album Below the Bassline (1996)
- The Promise, by Girls Aloud, from the album Out of Control (2008)
- Posed by Models, by Young Marble Giants, from the album Colossal Youth: expanded version (1980)
It has previously been established that George (Russell Tovey) is Jewish, albeit not especially devout. He wears a Star of David round his neck, is able to recite at least part of the Kaddish (prayer for the dead), and most tellingly of all, has actually stated that he is Jewish, to Herrick (Jason Watkins) among others. Yet his father's funeral is plainly a Church of England ceremony, judging by the wording and the vicar's robes. It is possible that George's father was Christian but his mother was Jewish - Jewish identity traditionally being passed down through the mother.