Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell teases how Colin and Penelope’s season 3 part 1 ending will affect their story moving forward. After two popular seasons, Shondaland’s Netflix adaptation of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novel series returned for a third outing earlier this month, and the story was all about Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin’s (Luke Newton) romance. The Bridgerton season 3 part 1 ending leaves things on a cliffhanger, with Colin and Penelope’s newfound engagement off to a troubled start.

In a recent interview with Today, Brownell comments on how Penelope and Colin’s story will continue in Bridgerton season 3 part 2. According to the showrunner, “everything’s about to shift” after episode 4, with the tone changing from “pure rom-com sensibility” to a much more tense, thrilling place.” Check out Brownell’s additional tease about the second half of the season below:

“Once Pen and Colin move into being a couple, the conflict comes more from the fact that Penelope is holding this giant secret in the form of Whistledown. And also you have Eloise’s reaction to these two getting together to come.”

Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 Has Some Major Story Threads To Continue

Penelope’s Relationship With Colin Is In Limbo

The first four episodes of Bridgerton season 3 part 1 are all about Penelope and Colin and the complicated romance that ensues after the former enlists the help of the latter to find a husband. It’s not just Penelope’s romantic life that’s explored in the new batch of episodes, however, and her friendship with Eloise (Claudia Jessie) is also a major focus. After the two have a falling out in season 2 due to the revelation that Penelope is Lady Whistledown, the two start to patch things up in season 3 part 1.

Although things seem to be looking up for Penelope and Eloise, things may get rough for Penelope and Colin in Bridgerton season 3 part 2. Penelope’s Lady Whistledown writing has previously portrayed the Bridgerton family unfavorably, and Colin’s discovery of Penelope’s alter ego essentially slams the brakes on their relationship. When the show returns in June, it will have to answer whether Penelope and Colin’s relationship can survive the unveiling of this major secret and how Penelope will balance her two passions.

In addition to these two relationship dynamics at play for Penelope, Bridgerton season 3 part 2 will aseemingly also explore what happens to Cressida (Jessica Madsen). In order to get out of a marriage to a much older man, Cressida claims to be Lady Whistledown, and this is sure to drastically change her life moving forward. While many questions remain about Bridgerton season 3 part 2, the show’s return is thankfully less than a month away.