Two of a Kind

To be accepted to the cheerleading squad Ashley must perform a mean prank on Mary-Kate's new friend, Gabrielle. Ashley soon learns that nothing is worth doing something so mean to another person; Carrie convinces Kevin to take a day off work and the two go to a ballgame together.

Kevin realizes that he is bored with his inhibited girlfriend, Nancy, and agonizes over how to end the relationship. When he tries, Nancy misinterprets him and becomes even more serious about him. Matt's advice is of no use, and Carrie is upset because Nancy is her friend. Finally, Kevin gently reveals his true feelings to Nancy, who overreacts. Carrie appreciates that Kevin is sensitive and unwilling to be cruel. Meanwhile, knowing how much Mary-Kate loved horseback riding when her mother was alive, Carrie invites her to come on Carrie's weekly ride. Mary-Kate declines, puzzling Kevin. But Carrie finds out that Mary-Kate secretly visits the stables every day. Mary-Kate admits to Kevin that she doesn't want to remind him of his wife, and he assures her it's okay because it is a good memory. Also, Ashley gets into trouble when she secretly orders a handbag over the Internet using Kevin's credit card.

Kevin is not pleased when his brother, Matt, comes to visit. Kevin knows his brother is immature and unreliable, which becomes increasingly clear after an incident at a hockey game.

Trouble starts when Carrie moves into Kevin's basement.

Carrie's old boyfriend, Alex Reardon, is back in town and Carrie feels she must make herself look as successful as he is. Carrie convinces Kevin to pretend to be Carrie's fiance to make Alex jealous; The twins have a party which doesn't go quite as planned.

Mary-Kate and Ashley prepare for their first school dance. Mary-Kate wants to dance with Jeremy, but he tells her that he only knows how to swing dance. Carrie teaches Mary-Kate how to swing dance. At the dance, however, they learn that Jeremy doesn't know how to swing dance at all - he lied to her because he doesn't know how to dance.

After Kevin buys a new telescope, Mary-Kate and Ashley snoop into other people's business. They think they witness their neighbor, kindly old Mrs. Baker, murdering her elderly boyfriend, Mr. Fillmore. The situation gets even scarier for the twins when Kevin asks Mrs. Baker to take care of them so he can attend a jazz concert with Carrie. Meanwhile, Carrie hears Kevin play the saxophone and encourages him to perform for audiences as he used to.

Ashley makes a new friend, Nicole, which leads Mary-Kate to feel jealousy; Eddie and Kevin argue while Carrie tries to be a mediator.

Mary-Kate and Ashley switch costumes with Max and Brian so that they can attend Carrie's Halloween party, from which they were banned by Kevin.

Ashley gets assigned Pokey Valentine, her crush, as a partner on a history project. She becomes jealous when Pokey and Mary-Kate begin spending time together.

Kevin hires a tutor for Mary-Kate. Ashley convinces Mary-Kate to switch places so she can flirt with Taylor, the tutor, but their scheme doesn't go as planned; Carrie convinces Kevin to ask out a woman at a coffee shop.