This was one of the first times Stargate SG-1 made me truly think about what Earth could become if we keep destroying our own planet in the name of consumerism.

The Tollans’ planet has become uninhabitable even though they’re technologically far more advanced than us, and unlike the Nox, they don’t mind hurting our feelings by reminding us of that.

With the introduction of the NID and Colonel Maybourne, we see the kind of people who look at a crisis and immediately start thinking about how they can exploit it. Clearly, the NID need to sort out their priorities, and in doing so they force the SGC — and SG-1 in particular — to decide which path to honor.

Though Enigma first aired in 1998, its themes still hit far too close to home — climate collapse, forced displacement, and governments causing and exploi ...