That Bot wrote:I figure, Starscream's always gonna be Starscream
'Nuff said.
Yet, to pontificate further... there's a great line from Agent Fowler describing Starscream in "Grill":
"He really needs to figure out if it's Megatron's
job he wants, or Megatron's
approval."
Starscream's always been self interested and scheming, but his need for positive attention can be satiated both as leader
and by receiving praise from Megatron, whom he may despise, but he has always respected, if only because of his sheer power. Starscream's more servile attitude at the end of Season 2 is almost certainly fake, but his genuine emotion at being left in command of the Nemesis and entrusted with difficult tasks by Megatron probably isn't.
My guess is he'll continue to be the loyal soldier for a few eps in Season 3 until he either screws something up or Megs starts laying praise on someone else (like Shockwave or Predaking), and he loses that positive attention and schemes again.