[Esuohlim]

Big Pete and Little Pete were actually the same person. The show is about a boy struggling to come to terms with adolescence and growing out of childhood. His personality traits are split into two people, Little Pete, who represents his childhood, and Big Pete, who represents growing up. Throughout each episode, Big Pete articulately and rationally narrates the world of the show as seen through the eyes of Little Pete, whose imagination is represented by the surreal elements of the show (e.g. mom's plate picking up radio stations, the ice cream man). Little Pete doesn't want to grow up, and he has his own idealized yet innocent vision of what it means to be an adult, as represented by his independence, and the tattoos on his arms and shoulder, which are actually imaginary.

Artie is actually Pete's imaginary friend that Little Pete eventually has to say goodbye to; the fact that both Petes see him confirms that they are indeed the same person. Each episode shows Little Pete taking on some aspect of childhood, living the simple life of a kid as Big Pete tries to come to terms with his coming of age. The two are constantly at odds as Big Pete tries to grow up while Little Pete fights with Big Pete trying to keep him on the same level of childhood that he sees the world in.