Worlds That Don't Affect Story - Spotting & Fixing

Hey everyone, Simone here. I'm working 2nd AD on a sci-fi pilot right now and I've been wrestling with a note about 'worlds that don't affect story'. It's been rattling around my head a lot. Sometimes I read a script that has this really cool, intricate world, but the plot itself feels like it could happen anywhere. Like the alien tech is just window dressing, or the futuristic city is only there for pretty shots.

My question is, what's a clear red flag in a script that tells you the world is functioning purely as a backdrop? And, more importantly, how do you go about fixing that? I’ve tried suggesting small character motivations tied to unique tech, or environmental obstacles that only exist in this world, but I feel like I'm missing something more fundamental. How do you truly integrate the world into the narrative so it's indispensable?