Ko Yu-fen states that it is not difficult to understand these trends against the backdrop of society at that time. Taiwan Outlaws of the Marsh was broadcast just after the first direct popular elections for municipal mayors and provincial governor, when the "underground" call-in television programs were at their peak of popularity, and when discussion of "Taiwanese identity" was at a fever pitch.
柯裕棻表示，把當時的社會背景說出來就不難理解──《台灣水滸傳》播出之前正是第一屆直轄市市長民選、地下電台 call in 正熱的時候，省籍情結在當時被激化到了頂點。