Introduction
You just finished watching the opening minutes of the Dragon Ball Super remake, and you’re already arguing with strangers online about whether it’s better than the 2015 original.
This Beerus episode 1 review is going to give you a straight answer: the remake, often referred to by fans as “The God Who Destroys,” is a genuinely strong reintroduction to the character, with noticeably sharper animation and a handful of pacing choices that will split longtime viewers right down the middle. It’s not a hollow cash-grab, and it’s not a flawless upgrade either.
What follows is a full breakdown of what changed, what stayed the same, and exactly who this remake is for.
What Is “The God Who Destroys” and Why Fans Are Talking
“The God Who Destroys” is the name fans have attached to this new pass at Beerus’s debut episode, and it’s generated an unusual amount of discussion for something revisiting a story most viewers already know by heart. That’s worth unpacking before getting into the review itself.
It’s a revised version of Dragon Ball Super’s original 2015 premiere episode, reworking the animation, some pacing, and reportedly parts of the audio presentation. The exact production details and official release window are still being confirmed, but the core story — Beerus waking from a prophetic dream and beginning his search for a Super Saiyan God — remains unchanged.
Why this episode specifically got picked for a remake
Episode 1 carries more narrative weight than most series premieres because it introduces a god-tier character almost entirely through tone and dialogue rather than action. If a studio wanted to showcase upgraded animation and sharper direction, this episode is an obvious candidate: it’s short, dialogue-heavy, and already a fan favorite moment in the franchise.
How fans found out about it
Fan discussion around the remake has spread mainly through clips, screenshots, and comparison threads rather than a single centralized announcement. That pattern alone explains some of the confusion around its exact title and release status.
What Actually Happens in This Version of Episode 1
The plot beats in this version track closely with what longtime fans already know, which is worth confirming up front before getting into tone and presentation differences.
Beerus wakes from a dream about a Super Saiyan God defeating him, grows unsettled, and sets off with his attendant Whis to investigate the threat. The destination is eventually Earth, where the surviving Z-fighters are living their lives, unaware a god is about to take an interest in them.
The core story beats that remain untouched
The dream sequence, Beerus’s irritable personality, and the Whis-led search for the Super Saiyan God are all present and structurally identical to the 2015 version. If you’ve seen the original, you won’t be lost for a second — this is the same episode at its narrative core, not a rewrite.
What appears to be new or expanded
Reports and clips suggest a handful of scenes run slightly longer, with additional beats of Beerus’s reactions and a few extra seconds on Whis’s expressions during key lines. Nothing here changes the plot, but it does change how certain moments land emotionally.
How the Animation and Art Style Compare to the Original
This is where most of the online conversation is happening, and for good reason — animation is the single easiest thing to compare side by side.
The remake’s animation appears noticeably cleaner, with smoother character movement and more detailed backgrounds than the 2015 original, which was produced on a tighter weekly schedule typical of long-running TV anime. The visual upgrade is the clearest, least controversial improvement across the whole episode.
Character movement and facial expression work
Beerus’s exaggerated, almost rubbery facial expressions were already a highlight of the original, and the remake leans into that even harder with smoother transitions between his comedic and intimidating faces. Whis’s more reserved body language also reads clearer, which matters since so much of his character is conveyed through subtle posture rather than dialogue.
Background art and color work
Background environments, particularly Beerus’s planet, show more texture and depth compared to the flatter color work typical of 2015-era weekly TV anime production. Whether this counts as a true remake or a remaster with new detail passes is a meaningful distinction fans are still debating.
Voice Acting and Performance Review
Voice performance is harder to judge fairly because so much of it depends on which dub or original audio track you’re watching, and that detail isn’t fully settled yet for this release.
Early reactions suggest the Japanese original cast reprised their roles with performances that feel consistent with the 2015 version, while dubbed audio details remain less clear. If you’re attached to the original voice direction, you likely won’t notice a jarring shift either way.
Japanese original audio
The original Japanese voice cast appears to be intact for this version, based on available clips. Consistency here matters a lot, since re-recording even a few lines can create a noticeable tonal mismatch within a single episode.
Dubbed versions and localization
Dub availability and casting details for this remake haven’t been widely confirmed at the time of writing. If you primarily watch dubbed Dragon Ball content, it’s worth waiting for confirmation before assuming a day-one release in your preferred language.
Pacing and Story Changes Worth Noting
Pacing is the one area where “remake” and “remaster” genuinely diverge, and it’s the detail most likely to annoy fans who know the original episode by heart.
A few scenes reportedly run a little longer than in 2015, mostly reaction shots and comedic beats rather than new plot content. The overall episode length and structure stay close to the original, so don’t expect a dramatically different viewing experience in terms of story pacing.
Scenes that breathe a little longer
Extra seconds on Beerus’s irritation or Whis’s deadpan reactions can change comedic timing without touching the plot. For comedy specifically, timing is almost everything, so even small adjustments can make familiar jokes land differently.
What hasn’t changed at all
The sequence of events — the dream, the decision to investigate, the direction toward Earth — is untouched. This isn’t a reimagining with new scenes or altered character motivations; it’s closer to a visual and technical refresh of an existing story.
Our Verdict: Scoring the Remake Across Five Categories
Rather than a vague thumbs up or down, it’s more useful to break this down into specific categories so you can see exactly where the remake earns its praise and where it falls short.
Animation scores highest, followed closely by faithfulness to the original story. Pacing changes and voice/dub uncertainty bring the overall score down slightly, but nothing here is a dealbreaker. This is a solid, respectful upgrade rather than a radical reinterpretation.
Scoring breakdown by category
Here’s how the remake stacks up across the areas that matter most to viewers deciding whether to watch it:
- Animation quality: strong improvement, the most noticeable upgrade in the episode
- Faithfulness to original story: very high, no major plot changes identified
- Pacing: mostly unchanged, with minor extended beats that affect comedic timing
- Voice performance: consistent in Japanese audio, unconfirmed for dubs
- New-viewer accessibility: comparable to the original, still requires some Dragon Ball Z context to land fully
Who benefits most from these changes
Longtime fans who already love this episode’s writing will likely appreciate the visual polish without feeling like anything essential was altered. New viewers get a cleaner-looking entry point, though they’ll still want basic context on how Dragon Ball Z ended for the humor and stakes to fully click.
Common Complaints From Longtime Fans
No remake of a beloved episode avoids criticism entirely, and this one is no exception. A few complaints show up consistently in fan discussion.
The most common complaints involve uncertainty around official sourcing and title, concern that minor pacing tweaks disrupt original comedic timing, and skepticism about whether a remake of such a short, already well-regarded episode was necessary at all. None of these complaints target the core content itself.
Confusion over official status and naming
A noticeable chunk of fan frustration isn’t about content quality at all — it’s about not having a clear, confirmed source for the title, release date, and distribution plan. That ambiguity has fueled speculation and, in some corners, outright skepticism that this release is being handled transparently.
Skepticism about remaking an episode fans already loved
Some longtime viewers simply don’t think this episode needed a redo. The 2015 version is already widely considered one of the stronger character introductions in the franchise, and a subset of fans see remakes of well-loved content as unnecessary compared to animating new, unseen story material.
Should You Watch the Remake or the Original First
This decision depends less on quality and more on what you’re trying to get out of the viewing experience.
If you’ve never seen Beerus’s introduction, start with whichever version is easiest to access, since the story and character work are identical either way. If you’ve already seen the 2015 original, the remake is worth watching specifically for the animation upgrade, not for new story content.
If you’ve never seen this episode before
You’re not missing anything by starting with the remake, assuming it’s available through a legitimate source by the time you’re reading this. The story holds up the same either way.
If you’ve already seen the original multiple times
Watch it for the animation and the small performance tweaks rather than expecting a new experience. Think of it less like a sequel and more like watching a favorite scene again after someone cleaned up the picture quality — familiar, but visibly sharper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Dragon Ball Super remake?
A revised version of Dragon Ball Super’s first episode, sometimes called “The God Who Destroys” by fans, has been circulating and generating discussion. Official details on its full scope, title, and release plan are still being confirmed, so treat specifics as developing rather than fully settled.
What is “The God Who Destroys” episode about?
It covers the same story as the original Dragon Ball Super premiere: Beerus wakes from a prophetic dream about a Super Saiyan God, grows concerned, and sets out with Whis to investigate, eventually heading toward Earth and the Z-fighters.
How does the remake compare to the original Beerus introduction?
The remake keeps the same plot and character beats but features noticeably improved animation, cleaner character expressions, and more detailed backgrounds. A few scenes appear slightly extended, which affects comedic timing without changing the story itself.
Is the Dragon Ball Super remake worth watching?
Yes, particularly for the animation upgrade, though it won’t offer new story content if you’ve already seen the 2015 original. It’s best approached as a visual refresh of a favorite episode rather than a reimagining.
Why did Dragon Ball Super get remade?
The exact reasoning hasn’t been officially confirmed, but episode 1 is a natural choice for a showcase remake since it’s short, character-driven, and already a well-regarded fan favorite.
Where can I watch the Beerus episode 1 remake?
Availability depends on official distribution, which isn’t fully confirmed at the time of writing. Check official Dragon Ball or Toei Animation channels directly rather than relying on unofficial clips or uploads.
Conclusion
This Beerus episode 1 review comes down to three honest takeaways: the animation upgrade is real and noticeable, the story itself hasn’t changed in any meaningful way, and a handful of unresolved questions around official sourcing and release details are fair reasons for some fan skepticism.
None of that makes the remake bad — it just makes it a polish job rather than a reinvention. If you’re deciding whether to watch it, go in expecting a sharper-looking version of an episode you may already know by heart, and double-check official sources before assuming any unofficial upload or leaked clip is the real, complete release.
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