I felt this episode should've given us more than it did. I had already seen the speculation about Kessler, but the episode treated it like it was some earth-shattering deal, even though the internet had already figured that out.
I thought The Boys did walk around Tek Knight's mansion way too easily as well. And I thought more would happen with Kimiko's lost phone, but that was forgotten. When Milk shot Sage why didn't Homelander hear that?
Homelander, Sage, and Neuman's plan makes little sense to me. She could just use her powers to assume the presidency after the inauguration without needing all those other people or even needing to evoke the 25th Amendment necessarily. I wonder if the real purpose of that scene was just to give The Boys the evidence they will use later to take Neuman down.
I did like some of the character moments. I liked Webweaver's suit, though I they couldn't resist being juvenile with his back web shooter gag, and also couldn't stop themselves from pushing the envelope or buttons with the sex dungeon scenes. I also liked when Tek Knight tried to buddy up with Homelander, and Homelander's put down as well. I was liking the twisted Batman/Superman vibe though. Speaking of twisted, I felt they went a bit overboard with Tek Knight. I wish they had toned him down a bit and kept him around because his powers make him very dangerous.
I have no idea what Deep has in mind for Black Noir II, but putting them two together was unexpected, and also gives Black Noir II more to do, which is good.
Concerning Homelanders/Sage's plan i fear it hits far to close to home in our reality. I don't want to veer off into conspiracy theory but it sounds awfully close to discussions that must have already happened in the US today behind the scenes in just such rooms that resulted in Project 2025 and the like. As it stands in the Boys universe there is still a large divide socially as it exists today in the US and thw world in general, which means they can't roll out measures Putin style yet.
They still have to be careful and measured, as evidenced by the other high rollers in the room, who immediately pointed out the problems their movement would face that they can't just steamroll Homelander style. So they have to take it step by step, invoking the 25th is a way to direct power grab. It's like boiling a frog to use that analogy - you increase the temperature slowly until it's too late, you can't drop it into already boiling water.
However i think you are right as a scene later shows The Boys listening to the audio recording of Neuman, i think that will play into the season finale and possibly lead into 5th and final season ( thank god, a season too late if you ask me).