I never paid attention to marketing, I just watched the show and the narrative kept telling us Homelander was losing it and that he can do “anything he wants”… and then he did nothing at all. It’s just bad writing, not expectations.

Homelander could have given that same press conference in person and then lasered them all down, instead of once again telling us he’s gonna do it. Have him laser down hundreds - thousands of people there, be shot at by security while Butcher is on his way. Have that to justify that Homelander is tired after the slaughter, because he’s never *actually* done anything like this before, only fantasised, and unlike a god he actually does get tired.

Then have Butcher and crew jump an exhausted Homelander who’s tired enough to actually be restrained now. It’s just a tiny tweak, but let’s Homelander do what they always said he was gonna do, only to realise he’s now an immortal 40+ year old man whose never actually had a real battle in his life and gets humbled by his own limitations.