This is so on point with something I saw recently.
I’ve been rewatching Stargate SG-1, and last night, I watched “the other side” (S04E02).
For anyone who hasn’t watched it recently and either hasn’t memorized every episode, or can’t be bothered to look it up, the people they encountered were fighting for survival, with dreams of pushing back their enemy and eventually eradicating them. Through the course of the episode, everything seems fairly normal, it’s just a war, right? Then you realize that everyone they deal with is white, everyone they’re trying to help, in stasis or otherwise, is white, and they’ve asked O’Neil to not bring back Teal’c when he says he’s returning to the SGC…
Turns out, though they didn’t say it, it was a race war. As soon as they discovered that, they actively sabotaged their efforts to defend themselves against those who “breed without any regard to genetic purity”, then promptly bail, letting them get destroyed.
Because the point was made without explicitly stating what was going on, it was a very clever episode. They were all ready to be on good terms with these technologically advanced people, then discovered that they’re racists and promptly set in motion the events that would end their lives.
If that’s not social commentary, I couldn’t tell you what is. Especially with shit like the OP floating around.
Shoutout to SG-1! I grew up on it and it has a special place in my heart. They had their stinkers, but boy did they have range, from black comedy gold to action adventure to existential awe to solid political commentary, and with a fantastic ensemble of characters.
This is so on point with something I saw recently.
I’ve been rewatching Stargate SG-1, and last night, I watched “the other side” (S04E02).
For anyone who hasn’t watched it recently and either hasn’t memorized every episode, or can’t be bothered to look it up, the people they encountered were fighting for survival, with dreams of pushing back their enemy and eventually eradicating them. Through the course of the episode, everything seems fairly normal, it’s just a war, right? Then you realize that everyone they deal with is white, everyone they’re trying to help, in stasis or otherwise, is white, and they’ve asked O’Neil to not bring back Teal’c when he says he’s returning to the SGC…
Turns out, though they didn’t say it, it was a race war. As soon as they discovered that, they actively sabotaged their efforts to defend themselves against those who “breed without any regard to genetic purity”, then promptly bail, letting them get destroyed.
Because the point was made without explicitly stating what was going on, it was a very clever episode. They were all ready to be on good terms with these technologically advanced people, then discovered that they’re racists and promptly set in motion the events that would end their lives.
If that’s not social commentary, I couldn’t tell you what is. Especially with shit like the OP floating around.
Watched this episode after reading your comment… loved the episode and identified the next series to watch.
Shoutout to SG-1! I grew up on it and it has a special place in my heart. They had their stinkers, but boy did they have range, from black comedy gold to action adventure to existential awe to solid political commentary, and with a fantastic ensemble of characters.