Beerus, the God of Destruction of Universe 7, debuts in the film Battle of Gods, released in Japan on March 30, 2013, and from there runs through the whole Dragon Ball Super anime. Beerus's profile covers the character; here we follow him saga by saga, from the threat who wants to wipe out Earth to the grumpy god who ends up growing fond of his Saiyans.
Dragon Ball Super
Battle of Gods Saga (episodes 1-18)
The Battle of Gods Saga opens with his awakening: Beerus has dreamed of a worthy opponent, the Super Saiyan God, and sets out with Whis to find him. In episode 5 he tracks Goku down on King Kai's planet and beats him with two blows, even though the Saiyan tries all of his transformations. At Bulma's party he discovers Earth's food, but when Majin Buu refuses to share the pudding he loses his temper: in episode 7 he flattens Buu, Gotenks, Gohan, Piccolo, Tien and Android 18, takes a slap from Bulma and slaps her back, unleashing Vegeta. He gives Earth one more chance, and with the Dragon Ball ritual Goku becomes a Super Saiyan God. Their clash shakes the universe; Beerus wins, but in episode 14, instead of destroying Earth, he pretends to fall asleep, pleased with his opponent and eager to taste more Earth dishes.
The series also pins several past events on him: he sealed the Elder Kai inside the Z Sword, shrank King Kai's planet to the one we know, and asked Frieza to destroy Planet Vegeta out of a grudge against King Vegeta.
Resurrection 'F' Saga (episodes 19-27)
In the Resurrection 'F' Saga he is a VIP spectator. In episode 25, after running into his brother Champa on the way, he arrives at the battlefield with Whis and enjoys Bulma's dessert while Goku takes on Golden Frieza. He assures the tyrant he will not get involved, as long as he stays away from his ice cream. When Frieza blows up Earth, Whis shields the group and rewinds time.
Universe 6 Saga (episodes 28-46)
The Universe 6 Saga brings in the family: in episode 28 his twin Champa and the angel Vados wake him up, and an argument over which universe has the best food turns into a tournament where the winner takes the other's Earth. As for the mysterious Monaka, the fighter Beerus keeps under wraps, he turns out to be an ordinary delivery man used to motivate Goku and Vegeta. After the win, in episode 41, Beerus uses the Super Dragon Balls' wish to secretly restore Universe 6's Earth.
Future Trunks Saga (episodes 47-76)
In the Future Trunks Saga he goes with Goku and Whis to Universe 10 to meet Gowasu and his apprentice Zamasu. When Zamasu kills his master and Whis rewinds time to stop it, Beerus erases him with his destruction technique in episode 59.
Universe Survival Saga (episodes 77-131)
The Universe Survival Saga puts him in front of his greatest fear: the Tournament of Power will erase the losing universes. In episode 78 he lashes out at Goku, who gave Zeno the idea, and demands that he take responsibility by recruiting his teammates. After the victory, in episode 131, he asks Whis to bring Frieza back to life as a reward for his contribution.
Movies
Beyond Battle of Gods, Beerus returns in the later films in a more relaxed mode. In Dragon Ball Super: Broly he naps at Bulma's vacation home and then babysits Bulla. In Super Hero he wakes up to find Broly, Cheelai and Lemo living on his planet, and lets them stay after tasting Lemo's cooking.
Did you know? In the first draft of the script Beerus's name was a pun on "virus". Revising it, Toriyama assumed it came from the German for "beer" and named his attendant Whis after whisky: that mix-up created the rule of alcoholic names for Gods of Destruction and angels.
Our take
Followed saga by saga, Beerus changes role without changing personality. In the first saga he is the final threat; from the second onward he becomes the Goku family's overbearing neighbor, able to threaten a planet over a dessert and then spare it for the same reason. That is his narrative strength: he is always dangerous, but almost never evil.
Perhaps the moment that defines him best is the anime's last one: asking for Frieza's resurrection is an act of sporting fairness more than kindness, and it says a lot about how Super sees its gods.
For the angel at his side, read Whis saga by saga; for his mortal rivals there are Vegeta saga by saga and Goku's profile.