Megatron believes that the key to a Decepticon victory lies in the North Pole, but quite suddenly not just via a new energy scheme. The brilliant, frozen Skyfire awaits, and it turns out he has been there for millions of years. It also turns out that he and Starscream shared something of a friendship in the past, something he hasn't forgotten. Now, the Autobots face Skyfire and the results aren't pretty. It seems like Megatron's victory is assured, but the key to convincing Skyfire of the truth involves the captured Spike and Sparkplug.
- Bittersweet Ending: The day is saved but Skyfire sacrificed himself in the process.
- Book Ends: Skyfire's sacrifice buries him in ice, just like where Starscream found him.
- Everyone Has Standards: The captive Autobots don't hold back in expressing their disgust at Starscream for his attack on Skyfire.
- Good Cannot Comprehend Evil: The longer Skyfire is with the Decepticons, the more he questions their methods. Eventually, Starscream gets tired of his moral dilemma and blasts him, finally convincing him to switch sides.
- Heroic Sacrifice: The episode ends with the heroes mourning Skyfire after he seemingly sacrifices his life to save the day. He would be found intact under the ice and revived a few episodes later, however.
- Hidden Depths: Starscream isn't exactly expressive, but still cares for Skyfire's well-being when he finds him, even promising to make Skyfire his second-in-command when Megatron was deposed. This obviously doesn't last.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: The only episode where Starscream shows compassion. The Decepticons discover the frozen form of Skyfire, his best friend in the days before his Face–Heel Turn. Starscream is at first thrilled to be back with his buddy, but when he realizes Skyfire holds Starscream's new life of wickedness in contempt, Starscream is furious, and he never says or does a kind thing for anyone for the remainder of the series.
- Sealed Good in a Can: Standard for the first season characters, really, but Skyfire had actually been frozen on Earth long before the Autobots and Decepticons crashed here. By the show's internal timeline, the main cast crashed here four million years ago. Skyfire predates the war, meaning he crashed here at least nine million years ago.
- Wham Line: Spike has fun in the snow with the Autobots, but it's what he says that reveals that something is not right.Spike: I can't believe I'm in a snowball fight, in July, in the middle of the desert! It's amazing!
Optimus; And perhaps dangerous.
