Gus and Mike have worked closely together during meth superlab.
That project is now postponed as Lalo Salamanca becomes more of an obstacle.
Gus offered to keep Mike on the payroll via retainer during the hiatus, but Mike declined since he was upset with the way construction worker Werner Ziegler was treated at the end of season 4.
After which, both Mike and Gus separated; the former wallowing away in alcohol amidst family trouble, the latter looking to gain the upper hand in an ongoing cartel war.
In last week’s “Namaste,” Mike was stabbed in the abdomen by a gang of street punks. Mike is saved from death by Gus.
At the end of the episode, both of them discuss their alliance moving forward. Mike questioned Gus why he still needed him to which he replied by stating Mike gets the concept of revenge.
After the season 5 premiere “Magic Man,” Jimmy and Gus will join hands to deal with Lalo.
With Jimmy now caught up in Kim’s Mesa Verde work, it remains to be seen if Jimmy will have anything to do with the cartel shortly.
Gus’ primary motivation in the ongoing cartel war is revealed in “Dedicado a Max”.
We know that Hector Salamanca murdered Max, which acted as a trigger for Gus to plot his revenge against the Salamancas. Going against Lalo is part of Gus’ plan.
Maybe Mike will find a way to exact revenge after his reunion with Gus.
It’ll be fascinating to see what transpires the rest of the season, but the pieces are in place for Better Call Saul to have a critical last handful of episodes this season.