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When working out the co-ordinates of the 'Convergence' in Thor: The Dark World, Erik Selvig claims that "the ancients left us coordinates" in the form of symbolic 'markers'.

Stonehenge is listed as one (makes sense, I suppose), so is Snowdon (a mountain range? How is this an ancient 'marker', but whatever) and this unexplained spot off the coast of Southend-on-Sea, famous for... erm... the world's longest pleasure pier? The Leigh-on-Sea Fishing Festival? Being the spiritual home of comedian Lee Evans?!

Map of the convergence

What is its 'historic' significance? It seems a totally arbitrary choice, when Britain is filled to brimming with neolithic landmarks.

Is this supposed to be an incredibly subtle joke? Or are we missing something?

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  • Is one of the actors from there? I remember an actor on the Graham Norton Show recently mentioned there was a British reference in their movie - I don't remember which actor/movie but it may have been this one.
    – DisgruntledGoat
    Feb 3, 2014 at 1:47
  • Nope, at least non of the named/featured/starring cast. There are plenty of 'British references' (much of the film being set in England), but there's nothing of note at Southend-On-Sea, it's a very dull place. This is why I thought it might be a joke, albeit an incredibly brief and subtle one.
    – John Smith Optional
    Feb 3, 2014 at 9:46
  • The only thing I can think of is from the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, where Ford and Arthur see the seafront at Southend when they are rescued by the Heart of Gold. Doubt it's that though.
    – Daniel Roseman
    Feb 12, 2014 at 8:00
  • Back when Erik Selvig was a young student doing amateur dramatics, he was the toast of Southend-on-Sea, wherever that is.
    – Paul D. Waite
    Feb 12, 2014 at 10:00
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    @JohnSmithOptional: "it's a very dull place" - try saying that loudly in the Slug & Lettuce at 10:45 on a Saturday night, see how far it gets you.
    – Paul D. Waite
    Feb 12, 2014 at 10:05

2 Answers 2

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If anything, it's most likely a reference to Warren Ellis - he lives in Southend and has written for both the Thor AND Excalibur titles. In fact, if that's the case, that might qualify as an Excalibur reference for your other question.

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It's the Maunsell Forts probably.

The Maunsell Forts are armed towers built in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during the Second World War to help defend the United Kingdom. They were operated as army and navy forts, and named after their designer, Guy Maunsell.

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    I highly doubt this is the case, they're far too recent.
    – TheLethalCarrot ♦
    Sep 7, 2018 at 14:25
  • @TheLethalCarrot Well, maybe the British built the forts there for some other reason, and national defence was just a cover. Or maybe the most convenient location for the fort was on top of a lump of rock that happened to have some archaeology on it, the significance of which was not recognised at the time.
    – Paul Johnson
    Sep 7, 2018 at 14:58
  • @PaulJohnson If that is the case it would make a decent answer. However, at the moment it does not appear to be the case. If you can find some evidence for this and edit it in let me know, I'd be happy to read it.
    – TheLethalCarrot ♦
    Sep 7, 2018 at 14:59

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