Unlike in the first film, he can't even claim self-defense for the sadistic traps he lays out. In Home Alone 1, defending the house was the point; Harry and Marv wanted to rob it, so he laid the traps to stop them. But in Home Alone 2, Harry and Marv don't care at all about Kevin's uncle's house; they don't even know about it until Kevin leads them into it. Their target is the toy shop. Kevin foils Harry and Marv as soon as he photographs them in the toy shop; the traps he lays in his uncle's house are completely extraneous and serve no actual purpose other than to torture the "bad guys". And Kevin's traps are much more extreme than in Home Alone 1, crossing into outright murder attempts with stuff like kerosene-doused ropes and high-voltage electrocutions. H's like a child version of Jigsaw.
I just felt bad for Harry and Marv in 2. Especially Marv.
I just felt bad for Harry and Marv in 2. Especially Marv.