[1] The show covers an area of Northern California's Humboldt County, including the local marijuana industry, and multiple disappearances and murders that have occurred in the surrounding mountain range.

[5] Lea Palmieri of Decider wrote, "if a weed farm and several unexplained missing persons doesn't add up to a compelling binge-watch, then nothing does".

[6] For Film Inquiry, Tom Bedford describes the series as “a fascinating insight into unique communities, unexplored lands, and disenfranchised voices.”[7] It was the most streamed documentary on Netflix up to that point.

[8] Officials in the Humboldt County area criticized the series and expressed worry over the potential long-term effects on local tourism and economic development.

[9] The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office questioned the accuracy of the series, calling it "one side of a highly sensationalized story".