In regards to the whole Shockwave arc: I saw it as he did die at the hands of the terrorcons but was also resurrected as one (he reappears, grey with dark energon accents) *but* being Shockwave instead of coming back as a snarling zombie he comes back and speaks emotionally, he was proud to see his predacons survive and I have a feeling if that scene went longer he probably would've told Predating how bit was Starscream's idea to lure the Autobots to the cloning lab on Earth in season 3.