From Googling, I also found the phrase "превзойти Ирода в жестокости" -- literally, "to surpass/exceed/outdo Herod in cruelty". (But the usual expression in English is "to out-Herod Herod").

P.S. Another common phrase in English is "[to go/perform/serve/fight] above and beyond the call of duty". This is a traditional construction used in giving awards and medals for military service, and as far as I know, the phrase "to go above and beyond" as used by Valda is a shortening of the military phraseology.

Wikipedia gives me the impression that "превышать долг службы" might be the correct Russian equivalent, but maybe someone could correct this.