Superman & Lois Season 1 Ending & Arrowverse Future Setup Explained

The Superman & Lois season 1 finale ended the battle with the Eradicator and teased new directions for its core characters. After a long period of being at odds with Morgan Edge (Adam Rayner), the Kents have finally managed to put their conflict behind them, thus allowing the show to move on to new threats and storylines.

Superman & Lois season 1 featured a number of twists and turns in regards to the identity of its main antagonist. Briefly believed to be a major villain, Wolé Parks’ “Captain Luthor” character turned out to be the DC Comics superhero, Steel. Meanwhile, the Kents’ true enemy – Morgan Edge – emerged as a nefarious figure with mysterious intentions in Smallville. One of the season’s biggest reveals came when it was discovered that Edge was actually Tal-Rho, the secret half-brother of Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) and an original Arrowverse character. All along, Edge has been using his resources to achieve the evil goals of his father, Zeta-Rho (A.C. Peterson), who convinced Edge to transform into the Eradicator, a minor villain from the Superman’s corner of the DC Universe.

All the challenges the Kents and John Henry Irons have had to endure in Superman & Lois season 1 culminated in a desperate bid to save Jordan (Alex Garfin) from Zeta-Rho and defeat the Eradicator. As has been the case with previous episodes, it wasn’t all on the Big Blue Boy Scout to save the day. Every member of the family (plus Steel) played key roles in the fight to stop Zeta-Rho’s plan for restoring Krypton on Earth from taking shape. Here’s what went down in Superman & Lois, season 1, episode 15, titled “Last Sons of Krypton”, and what it means for season 2.

How Superman & Steel Defeat The Eradicator

As noted by Superman and Steel, the odds weren’t on their side when they fought the Eradicator, who used his abilities to possess a handful of soldiers with Krypton’s Defense Council. However, being outnumbered didn’t seem to matter. Superman impressively plowed through most of the Defense Council, demonstrating once again that he’s physically superior to the show’s Kryptonian villains. Superman being better and stronger than them can likely be attributed to the fact that he’s a natural Kryptonian. His opponents were inhabiting bodies limited by their human physiology.

The Defense Council proved to be mere obstacles, whereas the Eradicator was always the real threat. Due to the vast amount of power Edge acquired from the Eradicator device, Superman understood that this was one situation where brute force alone wouldn’t suffice. Thanks to their careful use of strategy, the Eradicator fell to a precise and powerful throw of Steel’s hammer.

How Lois Saved Jordan From Zeta-Rho’s Control

Superman and Steel may get the credit for beating the Eradicator, but it was up to Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) to save Jordan. Using a device from an earlier episode that would enable her to gain access to Jordan’s memories, Lois waded through his subconscious (and Zeta-Rho’s) to find her son. In an emotional moment, Lois struggled to reach and inspire Jordan to fight back against Zeta-Rho’s influence. Aided by Jonathan (Jordan Elsass), Lois succeeded in getting through to Jordan and driving out Zeta-Rho, effectively ridding the Arrowverse of his presence for good. Everything that the show has done to make Lois feel like an equal to Superman seems now like it was building toward this huge moment for her character.

How Morgan Edge Survived (& How He Can Return In Season 2)

Prior to the finale, it was understood that Edge killed himself when he gave in to the Eradicator’s control. Edge had feared this fate his entire life, which was why he avoided it for so long. Zeta-Rho reiterated that being the Eradicator meant death when he told Superman that he sacrificed his own son. But as it turns out, Edge’s consciousness was simply repressed by the Eradicator.  In the immediate aftermath of the fight, Morgan Edge was shown laying on the ground, telling Clark that he just wanted “a family”, prompting Superman to remind him that he could have had one.

Apparently, the use of Steel’s hammer freed Edge of the Eradicator’s power and reverted him back to normal. What will happen to him next wasn’t shown, but it can be assumed that he’ll be placed under heavy surveillance by the government. So while Morgan Edge has been defeated, he isn’t necessarily off the table for season 2. Clark, for one reason or another, could one day be forced to seek information from him, especially since he no longer has Jor-El (Angus Macfayden) as a guide on all things related to Krypton.

Steel’s Daughter In Superman & Lois: Natalie Irons Explained

When it was all over and looked like the characters were about to go their separate ways and move forward with their lives, Natalie Irons (Tayler Buck) arrived in a spaceship, which serves as confirmation that her father wasn’t the only person who survived the destruction of her Earth in the Crisis on Infinite Earths. Previously seen only in flashbacks, it was believed that Nat was just a key figure from Steel’s past, but now she’s about to become a part of Superman & Lois’ present-day story. It’s worth noting that the Arrowverse’s Natalie Irons is based on the DC Comics character of the same. Following in the footsteps of her father, the comic book version of Nat eventually suited up as Steel, and used her armor designs to take on other superhero identities, such as Vaporlock and Starlight. With Supergirl’s tenure in the Arrowverse coming to an end, Nat can fill the gap left by that series and character in Superman & Lois‘ story.

What Steel’s Daughter Means For Superman & Lois Season 2

The reveal that Steel’s daughter is alive has some interesting implications for Superman & Lois season 2. First of all, it shows that instead of leaving Smallville as he intended, John Henry Irons will continue to be integral to the series. When Superman & Lois returns, he’ll have a chance at happiness with his daughter, but it could easily be complicated by her memories of her Earth. Similar to how Steel had to adjust to the idea that the Superman and Lois Lane of Earth-Prime aren’t the same people he knew, Nat will have to come to terms with this realization as well. How she’ll impact the show’s family dynamic is sure to be a big storyline for at least the first few episodes of season 2.

What General Lane’s Retirement Means For His Future

General Lane (Dylan Walsh) made a surprising announcement when he told Steel that he’s retiring. While being the head of the military force stationed in Smallville has had a lot to do with his Superman & Lois role in season 1, his retirement doesn’t remove him from the equation in future seasons. His words to Steel about prioritizing his family hint that he’ll still be around, just in a different capacity. Though he may no longer have any official authority, his years of experience and the knowledge he must possess could come in handy to the main characters in the battles to come. Plus, his relationship with the Kents stands a good chance at growing even stronger now that his first obligation won’t be to the military.

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