MTV’s ‘Awkward.’ Season 3 Premieres Tonight; Star Ashley Rickards Says, “Jenna’s Going To A Whole New Level Of Dark” [VIDEO]

The MTV original series "Awkward." will be returning to the small screen soon, and this season will prove to be even more...awkward...for the high school students.

"Awkward" star Ashley Rickards told The Hollywood Reporter, "The theme of the season is who do you want to be. [Jenna] spent two seasons trying to figure out who she wants to be, get the guy she needs who's right for her and figure out her place in the world."

At the beginning of 20-episode season three, Jenna will be entering a new phase in her romance with Matty, which may threaten their progress so far.

"She's navigating this new stage of a relationship with Matty, and her and her mom [Lacey] are evolving. Buat at the end of the day she has to figure out if this person she's becoming is who she wants to be," Rickards said.

Jenna's journey exploring who she wants to become was catalyzed by her creative writing teacher Mr. Hart, played by Anthony Michael Hall. The question he introduces in the beginning of season three will force Jenna to "go to any length to figure that out. In the end she goes to a really, really dark place the show's never gone before," Rickards hinted to THR.

The season premiere will also explore the start of a relationship between Jenna's best friend Tamara (Jillian Rose Reed) and former love interest Jake (Brett Davern).

Davern joked that the season-two finale kiss between him and Reed was Reed's favorite moment of the season by far. Rickards commented, "Humble over here, humble."

Reed told THR, "We get to see where the romance led," about the couple's summer trip to Europe.

Davern, aside from his jokes, told THR that Jake is "really excited to be in a relationship that is fully open and out there, and they get to explore this very adult relationship that they think they're in."

Rickards added, "Tamara and Jenna talked about [Jenna's past romance with Jake] beforehand and came to an understanding and sort of got the go-ahead. That being said, it doesn't mean it's going to be flawless and there won't be jealousy and awkward moments of course."

"There are a couple of weird awkward group dates that we go on, "Reed teased. Davern added, "[Jenna and Jake] have some inside jokes and stories that happened with just the two of them that get brought up when Matty and Tamara are around.. a little third and fourth wheel sometimes."

It sounds awkward, but then again, that's what the show is all about. But, the show promises to have deeper moments this season.

Rickards told Entertainment Weekly, "A lot has changed, and a lot will change. Last season was about change, and this season is deciphering if that change is the change you want. It's figuring out 'Where does the past fit into the present, and where does the future work with where I am now?'"

Serious themes for an MTV Show.

MTV's "Awkward." season 3 premieres on Tuesday, April 16 at 10 p.m. on MTV.

You can check out the trailer for season 3 below: