Yeah, I did the same. Dropped in EP. 4, came back for EP.7. Very enjoyable.
I do think EP.8 was a little on the weak side. Someone else said it best, it feels somewhat disjointed.
But it's still great, just a little weak compared to other eps. imo. Some parts were great, others kinda meh.
So, I don't think the underwhelming feeling is that much your fault for hyping this last episode a lot.
The disjointed feel was definitely there. It was missing a few lead-in screens to link between scenes. The one that seemed really jarring was when the mc was studying with the Scooby gang and then he just fucked off to hang out with Quinn. A simple, "Need to stretch my legs" comment would have worked.
And, ending with Sage being (both are adopted then ?) that idiot (Tibalt) sister, no comment, she did not mention it has any time, like she would have any report about the events between MC and him.
Add what is known about the Father, Sage is a damn idiot to not even know about the state of relation between her parents.
Her father using prostitutes and basic schoolgirls, if not in relation with Isa does she end giving it to him ?
Great it happened right after the wife path get force closed, make sense as to the situation, aka 1 path only.
Still, it will be interesting.
+ his first GF coming, and Lily still waiting for his response. Damn. As Sage is busy with her study, what is more, have she been a party rover at any time ?
Lily proposition is damn attractive, what girl is not really GF material but as to communication and community management she is skilled, as she said, if they do it.
Bonus, there is probably a relation between his mom and Jill's (same house on the background). From this there is room for another layer of support for the MC once he is recognized.
We are learning more and more about Sage.
Initially she came across as the bad girl, ready to fuck at a moments notice, anywhere, anytime. But it became obvious enough that she was hurting and the mc was just helping her to cope (sexually).
She's making mistakes as the President of the HOTs, trusting the self-serving Quinn too much, and too preoccupied with her own problems to see what is going on around her.
When she's finally out of the relationship with Chad, she's virtually throwing herself at the mc, even if he's shown no interest in her all along.
It seems Sage needs to be in a relationship to feel good about herself. Even a shitty relationship like the one with Chad, to her, was better than no relationship at all (hence why she stuck with him even when it was empty).
We find out she's not just some dumb bimbo but actually a hard working student, she just doesn't have the best of reputations (students and staff alike are surprised to see she's actually got brains - I guess when you prance around all day in a skirt that can never hide your underwear and your tits virtually hanging out of your top, people are gonna make some assumptions).
Then we find out she's not as kinky as we thought, and she doesn't know Quinn as well as she thought. The blindfold, the strappon, the ball gag, these all take Sage by surprise (while we didn't bat an eyelid).
And what do you know, the super sexy, guys would walk across burning coals to eat her shit, president of the HOTs, hasn't even had a threesome.
So Sage not being aware of Chad's gayness, Quinn's dodgy deals, her father's infidelity (and association with a campus prostitution ring), seems to be part of who she is. It's not that she's as naïve as Jill, it's just that she trusts those around her, and she's too caught up in her own shit to see warning signs (panties in Chad's gym bag was too much to miss though).
Regarding her never mentioning Tybalt as her brother, would you be telling people if he was yours?