I think that this past episode was one of the best of the season, possibly since the first one (not that there's such a thing as a bad Breaking Bad episode, but some are better than others). The best scenes for me in this episode were the scenes with Hank and Walt putting the tracer on Gus's car and the flashback (for obvious reasons). When Hank is trying to convince Walt to put the tracer on the car and his back is turned, and then who but Mike should drive up right alongside? Hank doesn't see him, Walt knows that Mike is keeping an eye on him, and yet he has to either try and get Hank to agree that his idea is futile or go through with it knowing he's being watched and that it could possibly come back to bite him later. The suspense building inside that tiny little car and then carrying over to the parking lot, into Pollos Hermanos where we actually see Gus, back out into the parking lot and then back into the car is incredible, and I have nothing but praise for the the acting, the writing, and the cinematography involved.
The flashback was my favorite scene of the episode, and in addition to answering a few questions, it also posed many more that I'm sure will (hopefully) be answered throughout the rest of the season. I'm sure I'm beating the word "suspense" to death, but that's just about the only phrase that comes to mind to describe the atmosphere permeating throughout the conversation between Gus and Max and the cartel. We find out why Gus needs someone else to cook meth instead of doing it himself, as well as why he carries a grudge against the cartel. I missed the cautionary warning at the beginning of the episode, so I had no idea that there would be violence in the episode. When Max got shot, even though I'd been suspecting that there would be a death during the conversation, I had no idea who's it would be, where, when, etc.
This episode, as all others, didn't disappoint, and I'm sad to realize that not only is this season close to ending, but there's only one more season left as well. However, if every last episode can provide as much, if not more, enjoyment as this one, I'll never miss the show because it will have become a part of me.