This is a problem with a lot of fantasy in general. Sailor Moon being a big example. You supposedly have this rich history full of interplanetary battles and kingdoms, and now it all takes place in modern-day Tokyo. A lot of Young-Adult fiction has normal high-school kids being reincarnated gods or running into ancient vampires but... they're all still in normal American high school. It grinds my gears too, because I know you don't have to have this stuff set in modern times to make it relatable. Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and Lord of the Rings are all very successful fantasy series that take place in their own universes, but it feels rare that any writer wants to do that. Which is probably why we haven't gotten any cool mermaid stories like that yet.
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