Rubicon

"**Rubicon**" is the first episode of the second season of the Fox superhero drama series *X-Men*. It was directed by Scott Peters and written by David Benioff. The episode sees the return of the Professor X vs. Magneto feud, and the introduction of Juggernaut.

## Synopsis

Four months after splitting up the Brotherhood, the X-Men are training to be able to take Magneto on when he strikes. Xavier is caught off-guard when a remnant from his past is brought back. Meanwhile, Magneto and Mystique conspire against one another.

## Plot

At the Pentagon, a guide is giving a tour to a group of tourists. However, when the fire alarm is sounded, they are forced to evacuate. In the kitchen, the cooks claim the fire appeared out of nowhere. John Allerdyce, disguised as a cook, leaves, having started the fire using his abilities. This distraction allows Victor Creed to sneak through the building, making it all the way to the underground prison, where he meets up with Magneto and destroys the glass wall protecting a metal-confined cell. Magneto tears open the cramped prison and reveals the Juggernaut, Cain Marko.

At the X-Mansion, Scott Summers leads the X-Men, consisting of Jean Grey, Logan, Storm, Hank McCoy, Kitty Pryde, Bobby Drake, Rogue, and Kurt Wagner. Together, they take on a simulated fight with soldiers to prepare them. Xavier congratulates them on their win, but insists they are still not ready to take on the power that Magneto possesses. Suddenly, Xavier has a feeling that something bad has happened, near the Pentagon. He tries to sense inside, but realizes Magneto is there, blocking Xavier from looking inside his mind. He is able to see inside Creed, and learns of Juggernaut's rescue. He tells the X-Men that his brother has been unleashed.

Scott follows Xavier into his office and demands he tell him about his brother. Xavier reveals that when he was twelve, his mother remarried. Xavier's step-brother, Marko, resented Xavier growing up and eventually became a human "juggernaut" after taking hold of a powerful, ancient crystal. Xavier claims there is almost no way of stopping Marko, unless he can get to him, which he cannot do if his helmet is on.

In a new secret base, Mystique learns of Magneto's newest act and orders Toad and Blob to locate new recruits soon. Xavier appears to her through a psychic projection and asks her to join him, as they are the only people who could stop Magneto together. She refuses and tells him she is coming after him once she kills Magneto.

Magneto and his team return to their island base, where Juggernaut questions when he can see Xavier again. Magneto reveals his original plan was to send Mystique into the government to collect any research being done on mutants. However, now that she has turned on him, he wants to use Juggernaut to create a mass panic outside of the White House. Sabretooth reminds him that the X-Men will come after them, and Magneto informs them their next plan is to attack the X-Mansion.

Hank and Storm go to the Pentagon and are able to deduce that Magneto's Acolytes returned to New York City. Jean uses Cerebro against Xavier's wishes and discovers Magneto's island is hidden with a sort of invisible force field. She and Scott secretly leave to go after it. When Xavier realizes they are gone, he sends Logan to stop them, but they are interrupted with Juggernaut, Sabretooth, and Pyro attacking the mansion. Logan and the younger mutants take them on, but they are no match for Juggernaut, who takes Xavier.

Mystique goes to the X-Mansion, but discovers what has happened. Logan forces her to help them find Magneto. She remembers Magneto's plan to hide the island from human view and she agrees to fly them to the location.

Scott and Jean rendezvous with Hank and Storm and they cross the ocean and narrowly find Magneto's base.

## Cast

#### **Starring**

* Stanley Tucci as Charles Xavier/Professor X
* Giancarlo Esposito as Erik Lensherr/Magneto
* Tyler Hoechlin as Scott Summers/Cyclops
* Italia Ricci as Jean Grey
* Justin Theroux as Logan/Wolverine
* Katee Sackhoff as Raven Darkholme/Mystique
* Kristen Stewart as Anna Marie/Rogue
* Keegan Allen as Bobby Drake/Iceman
* Elizabeth Olsen as Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat
* Adam DiMarco as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler
* Kyle Chandler as Hank McCoy/Beast
* Angela Bassett as Ororo Munroe/Storm

#### **Guest starring**

* Liev Schreiber as Victor Creed/Sabretooth
* Josh Segarra as John Allerdyce/Pyro
* Jonah Hill as Fred Dukes/Blob
* Steven R. McQueen as Todd Toynbee/Toad
* John Cena as Cain Marko/Juggernaut

## Reception

### **Ratings**

The episode was seen by an audience of 16.27 million viewers, a bigger audience than its series premiere the year before. It's demo rating of 6.6 was tied with its series premiere.

### **Critical reception**

The premiere received generally favorable reviews from critics, with Tucci and Esposito being highlighted, but Cena's performance being criticized. *The A.V. Club* graded the episode a "C+", while IGN was more positive, giving it an 8.9/10.