Dragon Ball Super: Beerus Episode 4, titled "The Saiyan God," marks a shift in pacing compared to earlier episodes of the remake. While previous installments condensed three to four episodes of the original 2015 series into single episodes, this latest entry covers approximately one and a half episodes, spanning from the midpoint of DBS Episode 8 through Episode 9. Consequently, the majority of changes are cosmetic or involve minor side-story omissions, though some alterations have been noted as less effective than the original.
One of the most notable additions occurs during the infamous Rock Paper Scissors match between Oolong and Beerus. Unlike previous episodes that often skipped lighthearted comedic moments, this remake retains the scene and enhances it with new imagery. The sequence now features an epic stare-down showing the mortal pig and the divine cat intertwined, adding to the punchline of the absurd encounter.
Conversely, the presence of the Pilaf Gang continues to be diminished in this episode. In the original series, Emperor Pilaf spots Shenron and commands his underlings to return to Bulma's ship after attempting to escape on a safety boat. The remake truncates this interaction; while Pilaf sees Shenron, the dialogue regarding his orders is omitted entirely, presumably to preserve screen time for the main plot.
The episode also reintroduces Vegeta's family vacation, which was skipped in the first three episodes of the remake. Originally depicted in Episode 2 of the 2015 anime as a trip with Bulma and Trunks involving ice cream and roller coasters, this sequence now appears as a brief flashback. It plays in the background when Chi-Chi defends Vegeta's purity against Piccolo's criticism, highlighting his role as a repentant father and husband.
A controversial decision involves the music during Goku's arrival on Earth to confront Beerus. Fans have long criticized the original scene for its lighthearted dialogue and upbeat soundtrack, which clashed with the gravity of the moment. While the remake leaves the dialogue unchanged, it removes the soundtrack entirely. This choice has yielded baffling results, as the absence of music is considered by some to be a worse outcome than the original "clown music".
Shenron's comedic moments are also significantly reduced in this version. The remake cuts much of the Dragon God's humorous humbleness when summoned before Beerus. Although Shenron still grovels slightly, the scene loses its bite, and Krillin's punchline about Shenron leaving in a hurry is completely removed.
Finally, Goku's transformation into Super Saiyan God receives a major visual upgrade. Despite being shorter than the original sequence—lasting about four minutes compared to seven minutes in the 2015 version—the remake delivers a more epic and cinematic experience through its visuals. This improvement surpasses even the original movie version of the transformation.
New episodes of Dragon Ball Super: Beerus are scheduled to stream on Crunchyroll and Hulu every Sunday, followed by Netflix releases the following Saturday.
Sources: Comic Book Resources.