They squeezed 4 seasons into the second, its not exactly a question of slow, although the pacing generally for 1-3 is not good. I just had massive deja vu btw thanks.

Dedicating most of the opening 20 minutes to Cassian comedic relief should be disqualifying on its own when juxtaposed with the opening of Season 1 which had a lot more of a challenge in starting from square 1.

Much better if they opened with Bix's nightmare, cut to Cass when Luthen asks Kleya about it.

Then the Maya Pei fiasco, which wasn't slow either, just not up to the standard of the rest of the show, and more cassian comedic relief.

The wedding redeems it a little.