AshesandDust

I believe in his mind it goes like this:
To counter evil, he needed someone to get their hands dirty. That is van and gungtan. They can enter the dark so that he remains 'clean'. In his mind it's a necessary evil, one that can be easily dealth with once the barrier is in place. Because he foolishly believes he can easily kill them once they have run their usefulness.

I guess one of the reasons i really like the show is because the trio reminds me of one my favourite shows; the guest.
The guest had a trio too, with amazing chemistry.

Moving on to the current episodes, i have this prediction about what gungtan intends to do by approaching mi ho right at the end of episode 2. Now if i were gungtan (i swear im not a half demon serial killer) i would try to create a rift between van and mi ho. Van tried to distance himself after he nearly killed mi ho but he isnt doing that anymore (his why? Why? when granny told him to stay put was so cute and funny lol).
Gungtan feels like van betrayed him and left him alone. He's going to want to hurt van and ofcourse the woman who sealed him as well. I think he'll create the invisible barrier to prevent van from coming to protect mi ho and then he'll have a talk with her. He might imply things that aren't true to get mi ho to distance herself from van, thus leaving her open to attacks. Gungtan doesnt just want to kill mi ho. He wants to make it as painful as possible for both van and her. That's my prediction, let's see what happens

Hmmm you do have a point there about splitting this into two parts. But who knows, maybe future episodes will make it clearer why they had to do so.

Yeah because 2016 gave us goblin, scarlet heart, Chicago typewriter and signal (I'm missing some but yeah)

Hmmm that's definitely one way of looking at it but if i may, here's my perspective;
(Not disagreeing with you, just sharing a different POV)

1) comparison to bulgassal is honestly only skin deep. I would actually compare this to alchemy of souls. I couldn't watch bulgassal honestly and felt nothing for the characters (except the FL's sister). Plus the whole premise of bulgassal was "i hate this woman, she killed my family. I will hunt her down and kill her, but I feel something for her"
While here, Van feels an overbearing amount of guilt. He doesn't hate Wongjeong/ Mi Ho. The only similarity here is that one is immortal and the other is reincarnated with no memories of her prior life. Oh and the whole being chased by the supernatural part. As you've said before, this is a commonly used storyline and not necessarily a copy of bulgassal. Several other shows like goblin, alchemy of souls, bulgassal have done this. At the end of the day, the webtoon is the source material and this is the story in the webtoon. I don't mind overused plots, but i do look at the execution because even clichés can be appealing when used right. So in my perspective, they have done a good job executing this plot.

2) Van wearing black is actually a part of the webtoon. I havent read the complete webtoon, only a bit of it so im not sure if his dressing changes but it's supposed to be an integral part of him. He's in mourning. That's my interpretation. He's mourning the death of one he loved. And the way she died haunts him to this day. Mi ho doesnt remember anything so he hasn't left his mourning garb. He blames himself for doubting wongjeong, because that was what lead to the events that transpired. Van's character building is very nicely done. From the start we were shown that out of the two boys that survived the lust demon transition, van was the more empathetic and humane one. He has a darkness certainly, it's what allowed the lust demon to take hold. But he's also good. When, as a child, he turned back when he could have escaped, it showed not only his devotion to wongjeong but also how at the end of the day he controls the lust demon. It does not control him, despite what he may fear.

3) gungtan is interesting. He is a character that we see in present day as well. People who have had their homes destroyed or are taken away from families and trained by others to be weapons. They eventually become destructive and their hatred is all they remain. Gungtan i can understand but i do not condone what he's done. He lets the lust demon control him but at the end of the day that will be his undoing, not his strength. He's not in charge and so has no control over anything. He thinks him embracing his darkness makes him stronger when actually it is his weakness.
Gungtan believed it was him and van vs the world. The only other person like him, the only one who could understand him was van. And he can't stand van not being there beside him because he doesn't want to be without the brother he bled and trained with. Since van is the only one like him, he can't stand van not choosing the exact same path, cant stand van's humanity.
It's like when two friends share a rare and common interest, an interest that sets them apart from anyone else, but one friend suddenly decides to leave that hobby or interest. That's how I see it from what we've shown.

4) Mi ho is completely in the dark here. She knows nothing, recalls nothing. But for the first time she has a group of people that she can trust. That will protect her for no price at all. She's rich but has had to fight for everything. For the shares in the company, for every idea she brings up and wants to execute. All her life she has had to watch her step, watch for betrayal. Money is an important part of her life. Which is why now that she has van who protects her and asks for nothing in return, johan who is like a brother when she has no siblings and the elder lady who is like grandmother/mother, she isnt thinking too much about anything else and just rushing headlong into this. Because now she has a true family. From the eat or be eaten world of chaebols, she is now in the eat or be eaten world of lust demons, but now she's not alone. Her father who cares more about his financial losses and image than his own daughter, her aunt who treats her like an enemy rather than a blood relation, this has made her into a woman who, when she has something to protect, will do so at all costs. I love her character!

So this is my take. It's long but i wonder if you'd read it and see it from a new light

Did what exactly? Im genuinely curious. Said something that annoyed you? Because that's all it was. No attacks, just annoyed you. Be honest here.

I clearly wrote "you can tell tone from a comment"
As in a singular comment. From a stranger. On net. Only a few lines. Not a student's essay my dear child. A comment online.
Also since im important enough for you to change the rating of an entire show, thankyou for the honour. You didn't have to

Sorry? I didn't understand?

So we know the reason behind guntan's anger and while i understand it, i don't condone it. You can't go on a killing spree just becauae of this. That's the difference between him and van. Van has always been more human, more empathetic compared to him. And while guntan may think that makes van weaker, i believe it will make van stronger. When we have something or someone to protect, we become stronger. Gungtan may think that because he has entirely embraced the darkness within, he will have the greater power. But i think it's a power he doesnt truly understand. In van's case, he controls the lust demon because he's absolutely terrified of hurting his loved one again. While in gungtan's case, he lets his lust demon take the lead. This is going to be the deciding factor in the final battle between them. That's my opinion.

Johan continues to be a bit of an enigma. We were introduced to some of his past in season 2 but there's definitely more hinted there in the trailers as well as by eun woo himself.

Mi ho is a beautifully, wonderfully strong woman. She's taking all the pain and channelling it into her training. I love that instead of crying over everything, she immediately got up and decided to do something to save everyone. Not that she didn't cry, she did. But she got right back up. Because she knows she can't afford to grieve or complain. She has to embrace all of this even if she doesn't entirely understand it.
I'll say this; i love how the characters are developing in this show. I love how our villain isn't cartoon evil. There's pain there and sufficient motive. But the villain and hero show two paths. The easy one and the hard one.
I love the world building and cant wait to see how the next 4 episodes will go.
May be if the show garners enough ratings, they may consider a season 3? It's doing well on amazon prime so lets see. This and the guest are two shows which have this beautiful bond between the main characters and im here for it.

I feel like they are definitely adding some romance here between mi ho and van. Ive read a bit of the webtoon and it's definitely prominent here. The chemistry i mean. It's not there in the webtoon

Great awesome, go ahead and do so. And while you are at it reread your comments. " My ADHD won't let me pay attention to anything unless theres something motivating me to watch it". That usually concerns pacing no?
You are certainly not just passively taking my "attacks" as you put it. I still don't understand what part was so offensive to you that you have gone on to say that im aggressive and attacking you...are you the kind of person that calls all arguments and difference of opinion attacks? Saying thing like "did you even take language arts" simply because i dared to differ from your opinion? And im the one attacking? Fine then.
Im done with this conversation

You talked about a whack plot and things being rushed and not making sense, then mentioned van getting weaker and talked about johan being able to battle the lust demons which why i thought you were talking about these two things when you wrote your first para. My apologies if that was not the case.
Secondly, i do not understand what part of my comment offended you so much. The part where i said people can just admit if they don't get something? That's not exactly offensive. You have gone on to say more offensive things. But fine I'll end this by apologising since sometimes what we say can come across as rude even if we don't intend it to be so

You know you certainly come across as attacking and aggressive

Its been reported by TVing as well as other media outlets

Im glad! Maybe if it continues to do well, they'll renew it for a 3rd season as well. The cast has wonderful chemistry, the plot is interesting and different from what is currently airing nowadays. This and alchemy of souls are the kind of fantasy dramas that made 2016 such a fun year. I hope to see more like it.

How about you quote the exact part of my comment that came across as "aggressive" "attacking"
Because you are really reaching here. Your adhd is not a reason to call something slow or boring when it really isn't. It's also not a reason to criticize the pacing of a drama. I don't know why you brought it up when it really isn't relevant here. Im obviously sympathetic to what you said since im a health care professional but im not sure why you brought it up
Secondly Lots of people worked hard in this drama. If its not your kind of show, leave constructive criticism and maybe not watch. Calling something slow and boring isnt constructive criticism. It's just negativity

You can see my tone from a comment? Wow you must be pretty amazing

Eun woo has how many dramas to his name? None of them roles that would be called ground breaking performances. Are you kidding yourselves when you say you came because of his acting? Be honest here. Eun woo is a good actor. But to be the sole reason for watching a show with big name actors? Be serious here. He's not just a pretty face and im not calling him that. But you guys are certainly treating him so especially since most of the comments on every platform just call him the hot priest.
People are like we rated the drama so and so for eun woo. He's definitely not the best performer here so thats highly illogical

*sighs* the second time im going to ask someone to read my comment again.
I have clearly stated that some (not all) eun woo fans are treating him like a pretty face and that they should respect him for taking a different role and not reduce him to his looks. Many comments are only talking about his looks and do not mention the plot at all. Why do you think I wrote some and not all? I didnt even write "majority of the fans". Why are you so triggered by a comment that isnt aimed at you if this isnt why you are watching the drama?
Also what you guys call a slow plot, i call world building. Its important for a lot of fantasy genre dramas and books. How will we understand the show if the makers dont take time to introduce it to us? Just because a show has 6 episodes per season doesnt not mean it has to have lightening fast pacing. You see slow, I see proper development of characters and their motives

90% of the comments are only about eun woo's looks and write nothing about the plot. If these aren't eun woo fans, my mistake.
But it certainly seems so.
And ive seen many people posting comments about a loveline between eun woo and mi ho on various social media platforms which is why I wrote a big IF before calling it one of the reasons.
Also eun woo has a pretty big role in the drama. When you write that if it's wrong to expect a bigger role, how big of a role are we talking? Because there's no way his role would be bigger than kim nam gil