The writing and directing of the first episode of Season 2 is dull. The imagery is dull. The lighting is dull. The characters are dull. The dialogue is exposition heavy. Absent are intriguing character moments, personality development, humor, dramatic twists, or interesting villains. The lame old organized crime trope is in no way interesting or engaging. The second episode does have a nice character moment, but it still feels like an overwrought, bad plot heavy story with too many scenes in dark speakeasies, and TERRIBLE dialogue. Also, as another reviewer said, there needs to be less focus on musical performances on a stage, and more on STORY!
I loved the first season of Luke Cage, but the first episode is supposed to make you want to watch more, not think about giving up on the series. I get where the plot is supposed to go, but this series needs better writers and directors to draw viewers in (and pull it off successfully), not turn them off to the series.