Cheng Chih-hui points out that those who liked "Desire" are perhaps the middle generation in mainland society. These people have been through the Anti-Rightist Campaign, the Cultural Revolution, and other tumultuous political movements, and are perhaps the "generation which has lost human warmth." Perhaps they see the Liu character in "Desire" as compensating in some way.
鄭至慧指出，喜歡「渴望」的觀眾，很可能是大陸社會中的中青代，這些人曾經歷過反右、文革等大起大落的政治運動，可能也是曾經「失去溫暖的一代」，他們心儀「渴望」裡為家犧牲、奉獻的慧芳，或許也是另一種補償心理。