Bridgerton executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers tease Colin's evolution and his romance with Penelope in season 3. Based on Julia Quinn's Regency-era romance novels, each season of Bridgerton follows a different member of the eponymous noble family as they navigate London high society in search of love. The first season followed the fiery romance between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), while season 2 shifted focus to Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) in a tumultuous love triangle with sisters Kate (Simone Ashley) and Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran).

Entering production earlier this year, Bridgerton season 3 will skip ahead and adapt the fourth novel in Quinn's series, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, which focuses on the romance between the third Bridgerton son, Colin (Luke Newton), and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). Penelope was revealed to be Lady Whistledown at the end of Bridgerton season 1, and the end of season 2 saw her best friend, Eloise (Claudia Jessie), uncover her secret. So far, the series has depicted Colin and Penelope as friends since childhood, though the youngest Featherington daughter has always secretly had a crush on the Bridgerton boy. Season 3 is expected to finally take the two from friends to lovers.

Related: Bridgerton Season 3: Every New Character To Expect

In the new book, Inside Bridgerton (via Entertainment Weekly), Rhimes and Beers teased Colin's evolution and his romance with Penelope in season 3. The Bridgerton executive producers both touched on Colin's desires and motivations. Read what the two said below:

Beers: He's in a tough spot, being the third son. In a world where you only need an heir and a spare, Colin doesn't know where he fits—and he's constantly looking to transform himself. He wants to be a savior, to be gallant. I don't know if that's a reverberation from being too young to do anything to help his dad or his mom, but he has a strong instinct to rescue the damsel in distress. You can really see his chest swell when he rescues the Featheringtons.

Rhimes: He keeps finding himself trying to save women—that's his instinct, he thinks that's what will deliver his purpose. He really is in love with the idea of doing the right thing more than the thing itself. But I do love him for it, this fixation on honor. I think it's very interesting.

What To Expect From Colin & Penelope In Bridgerton Season 3

Bridgerton Colin and Penelope

Beers explicitly mentions Colin's deep-rooted desire to "rescue the damsel in distress" which, in Bridgerton season 2, manifests itself in saving the Featherington women by exposing cousin Jack's scam. Because he is the third Bridgerton son after Anthony and Benedict (Luke Thompson), Colin is not the heir of his house and oftentimes feels discontent due to this social hierarchy. Thus, Colin tries to find purpose in life by "saving women," as Rhimes says, which makes him feel heroic and useful. As Colin steps into the spotlight for Bridgerton season 3, it seems his heroic tendencies will be put under a microscope and examined on a deeper level.

At the end of Bridgerton season 2, Penelope is at a low point after effectively ending her friendship will Eloise and overhearing Colin say he would never court her. Despite being depicted as a fiercely autonomous character in the past, Penelope could currently be characterized as a damsel in distress and conversely, this could be what leads Colin to take a more serious interest in Penelope after previously wanting their relationship to remain platonic. Only time will tell whether this side of Colin's character factors into his upcoming romance with Penelope in Bridgerton season 3.

Next: Do Colin & Penelope Ever Get Together? Bridgerton Book Future Explained

Source: EW