Get your tribal council torches out, and get ready.

Tonight marks the 23rd season premiere of “Survivor,” and this season’s competition takes place in the South Pacific. Despite the beautiful backdrop, viewers know by now that the location turns ugly when the competition heats up. Wacky challenges, injuries, feuds between tribe mates and interventions by Mother Nature make each episode entertaining and dramatic.

The producers try to shake things up from season to season, but it’s met with mixed results, at best. We’ll see how things play out this season, where it looks like producers are continuing last season’s theme of redemption by bringing back all-star cast members and bringing back Redemption Island.

The island was an idea that was messy and confusing at times, but definitely added a wrench into the otherwise straightforward game structure. Instead of a player being sent home by the tribe, they were sent to Redemption Island. Each week, players would battle who would get to stay on the island and who would go home. At a certain point in the game, the player remaining on the island reentered the game and continued playing for the prize.

Redemption Island will be back this season, but it’s too soon to tell what this means for the show this time around. Episodes were faster paced with the addition of the island (less tribal council time, anyone?), but multiple people on the island at once sometimes got distracting and a little confusing. However, it did succeed at eliminating Russell, so maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Speaking of the devil, the infamous Russell Hantz will not be a contestant in “South Pacific.” He’ll still have some degree of influence in the game, though. His nephew, Brandon Hantz, will compete for the $1 million prize this season. We’ll tune in to see if Uncle Russell gave Brandon any tips on strategies, like relentlessly chasing immunity idols and not making friends.

The theme of redemption among former contestants also still seems to be running strong in the South Pacific. Ozzy Lusth and Benjamin “Coach” Wade return to the “Survivor” island on opposing teams this season, each hoping the third time’s a charm to prove they have what it takes to survive the 13 weeks of the show.

Viewers should watch out for Ozzy, who is back once again, albeit with longer locks. In short, he’s womanizing, he’s entertaining, he’s skillful and he’s cunning. Who can forget the fake immunity idol trick he pulled, and even got away with? Ozzy’s really what the game should be about, so it will be great to see what he brings to the table his third time around, especially since he’s recognized the need to focus more on his strategy in his latest attempt.

Oh, Coach. Yes, the he’s hilarious, dedicated and most definitely delusional, but is he a strong survivor? That’s up for debate. On his third time around, the former “Dragon Slayer” has re-labeled himself the “Zen Slayer,” so it will be worth seeing what his new tactics and antics will be. In a preview, it looks like his newest mantra might just be “honor and integrity,” so it looks like his tribe has some exciting days ahead.

With a lingerie football player, a Harvard Law School student and a mortician among the contestants trying to “outwit, outplay and outlast,” it’s sure to be an amusing season that will have people talking and DVRs rewinding.

The 90-minute “Survivor: South Pacific” premiere airs tonight (9/14) on CBS at 8 pm.

Reach writer Jennifer Schultz here, and follow her on Twitter here.