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Dev is so last season! When Smash returns for its second season Feb. 5 on NBC, Karen (Katharine McPhee) will find herself very much involved with up-and-coming composer Jimmy (Jeremy Jordan) — but don’t call it a “love story” just yet. “It’s more of a chemistry story,” Jeremy explained to HollywoodLife.com during a recent visit to the show’s NYC set. “It’s this constant tug and pull; just when you think something might happen with them, something gets in the way.”

Katharine, meanwhile, chooses to look at Karen and Jimmy’s relationship in a much more romantic light, describing it as a “tumultuous love affair.”

Jimmy’s a tough nut to crack, and it sounds like Karen is just the squirrel he’s been looking for. (Does that make sense? Squirrels crack nuts, right?)

“He doesn’t trust anyone — except maybe his best friend Kyle, played by Andy Mientus — until Karen comes in,” Jeremy said. “She sort of starts to open him up a little bit, but it’s very hard work on her part.”

And Karen doesn’t exactly mind putting in the extra effort.

“I think she she — as many theater girls are — is a sucker for men that are incredibly talented,” Katharine admitted.

What’s The Deal With Jimmy?

After chatting with Jeremy about his bad-boy character, I think it’s safe to say that Karen has no idea what she’s getting herself into.

“He’s a very angry young man,” Jeremy said. “He’s had a lot of really bad things happen to him in his life. … It’s difficult for him to trust anybody with his [music], so you’ll see a lot of contention between him and the characters. He’s a tough one to like, but hopefully you’ll see glimpses of why he is that way and how good he can be.”

And even though drugs play into Jimmy’s story line a bit, Jeremy “wouldn’t say he’s a drug addict.”