Ruth brings up visiting the mall by Chester's Mill. A reference to Stephen King's Under the Dome
Among all first season episodes, this episode received particular acclaim from critics with praise being directed towards the writing and Sissy Spacek's performance.
Schuyler Fisk, who plays the younger version of Ruth Deaver, is Sissy Spacek's daughter
The Ringer's Miles Surrey referred to this episode as "not only the best episode of the series, but one of the best episodes of television in 2018."
Aiming commendation at the episode's instrumental score, reviewer Jacob Knight wrote, "The music in Castle Rock - courtesy of composer Chris Westlake - has been nothing short of exemplary throughout the entire series, but in "The Queen" it practically becomes a character unto itself."