It’s an adaptation set in fictionalised European setting. Dudes had to get some travel in first. They start with fictional Middle East setting next to the European and Scandinavian ones, then send blonde dragon Girl further into fictional North Africa.
They couldn’t go in season one, because they were following the books.
Can’t believe I am sorta defending it, because frankly, I think the books and the fshow are both tripe created by a very...strange...man. I read the books to keep a promise, and every time I start paying attention to the show as an accidental viewer, I remember why I avoid the thing.
Oh..and to the fans...he’s never, ever, going to finish the books, you know that right?
Representation in fantasy is a tricky beast, it’s a thing with cultural roots thousands of years old, so sometimes, it’s just not gonna happen. Other times, it’s gonna happen really well.
I have still yet to see anything that did it as well as Guild Wars, and that’s a video game.