The latest Superman & Lois Season 2 episode surprisingly lays the groundwork for a different Man of Steel to defend Earth against its future foes.

The following contains spoilers for Superman & Lois Season 2, Episode 13, "All Is Lost," which aired Tuesday, June 7, on The CW.

Season 2 of Superman & Lois has teased for some time that Tyler Hoechlin's Man of Steel would be seriously injured. His being put out of commission was foreshadowed by Steel's arrival and his daughter Natalie building her own superhero suit. Natalie suggested she empower Jon Kent as well, plus his brother Jordan's superpowers were increasing. All of it was building toward someone other than Superman needing to step up.

Sadly, the latest episode including Ally Allston depowering Kal-El using her Parasite powers, leaving only Clark's human side behind. That plot twist fans wondering if Steel and the kids were up to the task of stopping Ally's mission to merge both Earths with the power she stole from Superman and others. However, Superman being sidelined has given another character the opportunity to pick up his mantle as the hero Earth needs -- and it's not the character fans would expect.

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Tal-Rho, Kal-El's half-brother, was initially conditioned by Zeta-Rho to take the planet for himself. Superman stopped him and had him thrown into a Kryptonite prison managed by the Department of Defense. Season 2 saw Kal-El release his brother from said prison so that they could collaborate to stop Ally's greater evil. But while they did damage the cosmic pendant and cause Ally to flee, Tal-Rho escaped rather than stay by his brother's side.

He could achieve redemption by stepping up in Superman's absence, proving to the Kents and the U.S. military that he was honest about wanting to be a beacon of hope. It's something the hologram of Lara craved when she spoke to him and Kal-El at the new Fortress of Solitude, saying they could elevate the House of El and inspire Earth like never before. Tal-Rho could become the son Lara wanted him to be and the brother Kal-El needs in his most desperate hour.

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He would also be looking out for Jonathan, Jordan and Lois, and that idea of family should be enough to install him as the interim Superman. Tal-Rho was cruelly trained by his dad as a child and lost one home in Krypton, so he wouldn't want to lose another home and family on Earth. But his choosing heroism will be even more personal because he'll have to face Dark Lana/Superwoman, who was his wife in the Bizarro World -- even though she had no problem with Ally killing his Bizarro counterpart.

Tal-Rho should be able to dispatch her since he has no emotional connection with her; it was his now-late doppleganger who married her. The only question would be if he could successfully dispatch Ally where others have failed. After murdering his alter ego, she may take pleasure in battling him, especially if doing so would be another disadvantage for Superman. But Tal-Rho assuming the mantle temporarily would give him the redemption his other self never got.

Superman & Lois airs Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

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