WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Transformers: War for Cybertron -- Earthrise, now streaming on Netflix.
In the Transformers Universe, Sky Lynx is a fan-favorite, especially for those who followed the Generation-1 continuity. There, he worked not just as a transport, but as a selfless soldier to help leaders like Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime save the Autobots and rebuild Cybertron. In other continuities, he's been dutiful as well, but this one paints him as a true legend, despite his arrogance at times.
However, come Transformers: War for Cybertron -- Earthrise, Sky Lynx turns on his faction as an entitled, elitist douche. But luckily, by the time the high-octane season wraps the traitor redeems himself in a move that may have preserved Cybertron's future.
In flashbacks, fans learn Sky Lynx opposed Alpha Trion to take control of the Matrix of Leadership. Trion warned he wasn't worthy, though, and when Lynx attacked, Trion used his rift-ax and dropped Lynx into the Dead Universe. This is the dark realm, a limbo where space and time can bend, that Optimus Prime and the Autobots find themselves after an explosion at the Nebulon space-bridge.
But rather than meeting a hostile Lynx, the traitor has seen the error of his ways and is trying to claw back towards the Autobot light. He rescues Optimus and realizes how dire things are as Optimus admits he lost the Allspark, left Cybertron to be ravaged by Decepticons and now has Megatron's Nemesis ark hunting them down. Rather than try to steal the Matrix within Optimus, Lynx offers sage wisdom to quell the chaos within, something he had cycles ago.
In this exile, Lynx dwelled on his actions, but he learned humility, ashamed of how power-hungry he was before. But seeing as he can see and listen into realities, he knows Optimus deserves to bear the Matrix and tries to dispel the leader's doubt as they commune. He urges patience, something that changed him for eons in the Dead Universe, and as they make their ethereal journey, he reveals Optimus needs to let the Matrix take charge of his destiny, even if it means someday choosing someone else. By doing so, all answers will be revealed, and if not, a dark destiny awaits. There's even a possible future they glimpse with Optimus turning evil, but the vet warns that Optimus needs to look within his mind's eye and stop blaming himself for the horrors of the Cybertronian war to avoid this.
It's bogging him down, which is why Megatron is thriving as Optimus is clouded by fear and anger. As much as he tells Sky Lynx he understands the lesson, the old-timer admits Optimus doesn't. But Optimus takes the words to heart and uses Lynx's advice to use the Matrix to open a portal to escape and find the Allspark.
Optimus also invites Lynx on the mission, cementing his redemption. Unfortunately, Megatron's been convening with Galvatron in the Dead Universe, and as he unleashes a volley of dark energy from his shell to destroy the Teletraan I, Sky Lynx flies in the way, taking the blast and turning to gold dust. It's a hero's death as he sacrifices himself for Optimus' ark to go free down the galactic road.
Developed by Rooster Teeth Studios, Transformers: War for Cybertron - Earthrise features the voice talents of Jake Foushee as Optimus Prime, Jason Marnocha as Megatron, Linsay Rousseau as Elita-1, Joe Zieja as Bumblebee, Frank Todaro as Starscream, Rafael Goldstein as Ratchet, Keith Silverstein as Jetfire, Todd Haberkorn as Shockwave & Red Alert, Edward Bosco as Ultra Magnus & Soundwave, Bill Rogers as Wheeljack, Sophia Isabella as Arcee, Brook Chalmers as Impactor, Shawn Hawkins as Mirage, Kaiser Johnson as Ironhide, Miles Luna as Teletraan I & Cliffjumper and Mark Whitten as Sideswipe & Skywarp. The series is now available on Netflix.