As those behind AMC's mega hit "The Walking Dead" prepare to unleash season five on fans, they look back on what has made them successful so far.

One of the biggest mysteries fans hope will be solved in season five is that of Terminus. Are the residents of Terminus really cannibals? That's exactly what Greg Nicotero, executive producer, wants you to wonder. In fact, that's why he directed episode 15 of season four, "Us," the the way he did.

"Oh, of course," he told Zap2It when asked if he was trying to tease the audience. "I know what she's cooking, and people will find out next season what she's cooking, but yeah, absolutely. I'm really proud of that episode."

Nicotero said he is also proud of episode 9 of season four, "After," which he describes as "probably the best episode I've ever directed."

"I was really proud to be able to put the show back on the road again," he recalled.

Season four also had another highlight for Nicotero: the performance of Melissa McBride, who plays Carol Peletier, in episode 14, "The Grove."

"I cried when I watched the first cut of that, and I got to the scene with Melissa and I literally paused it and had to call her and say, 'You f***ing made me cry. I'm speechless,'" he shared. "And she's like, 'Well f***, hang up and watch the rest of it and call me,' because she was so excited. Then I watched the rest of the episode, and I was speechless for like 45 minutes. ... I was just so moved by her performance and what a fantastic script Scott Gimple wrote. She called me back like three hours later, like 'Thanks for calling me back,' and I was like, 'You don't understand. I couldn't talk.'"

That is not to say that Nicotero has reached his peak, however. He already has his season five directing schedule and thinks he will top last season's work.

"I feel like I'm having my championship season," he said.

"The Walking Dead" is more than good directing and acting. The show also features some amazing scenery, partially thanks to John Fore, who served as "The Walking Dead" construction coordinator from the beginning.

"When I saw the production was coming to town, I presented my resumé, and they told me, 'You're the guy,'" he told Journal of Commerce.

Because of his proximity to the cast and crew, Fore may actually be a good person to hit up for spoilers, especially since he has left the show to work on a feature film.

"As a department head, I'd receive a copy of the script early on," he said. "I'd read through it and sometimes get lost in the story. Then a little flag would go up, and I would realize I should make a note about things I would need to work on. ... We'd all signed a non-disclosure agreement, and I stuck to it."

Season five of "The Walking Dead" begins in October.

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @SH____4.

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