History Buffs

History Buffs is a YouTube channel that became active in mid-2015. Focusing primarily on reviewing historical movies and series, it's hosted and run by Nick Hodges, a young amateur historian from the United Kingdom who's represented in the videos by an animated avatar.

Although relatively new, the channel has seen growing popularity thanks in part to a blend of entertainment, historical context and fair criticism on a given film or show's authenticity and accuracy. Not to mention Nick's rather frank yet fair treatment of the subject matter, while remaining down-to-earth and approachable.

The channel can be found here.


 * Artistic Licence History: Although Nick is something of a sticker for historical accuracy, he also makes a point to emphasize how taking liberties aren't necessarily a bad thing at all. Done right, it can capture the feel and authenticity of the setting. It's when it's done poorly that he really takes issue with.
 * Author Tract: While Nick's frank with his assessments and views, he generally tries to avoid ranting unless it's warranted. Nonetheless, he makes an effort not to let it affect the historical facts.
 * Berserk Button: So far, he's expressed a strong loathing of Braveheart, the more blatant examples of Hollywood History anything inaccurate about Christopher Columbus among others.
 * The Dung Ages: Defied. Nick is tellingly frustrated by how Hollywood and certain others seem fond of depicting medieval Europe as this.
 * During the War: We Were Soldiers, with Nick appreciating how it not only shows The Vietnam War from both sides, but also makes a good attempt at portraying the actual conflict rather than the emotions, politics and consequences surrounding the war.
 * Fair For Its Day: He generally acknowledges a work's attempt to puts into account the context, norms and whatever Values Dissonance of the setting it's trying to portray, preferably leaving it to the viewer to judge.
 * Historical Hero Upgrade: Nick sees Christopher Columbus as underserving of this in various works that persistently glamorise his memory.
 * Historical Villain Upgrade: One of the biggest gripes with both Braveheart and ''The Patriot' is how the English/British are given this treatment to the point of being reduced to demonic caricatures.
 * Hollywood History: The channel in general absolutely hates it when filmmakers and executives sacrifice accuracy, authenticity or competence in favor of the worst aspects of this trope.
 * Mighty Whitey: Brought up concerning The Last Samurai but ultimately refuted by Nick, as Tom Cruise's character was never meant to be one in the first place.
 * Patriotic Fervor: Nick takes his Scottish homeland and heritage seriously, which makes his skewering of Braveheart all the more personal. It doesn't stop him either from riffing on The Patriot, which tries to be a rousing American film but comes across as patronising and insulting to both sides of the American Revolution.
 * Politically-Correct History: More than once, Nick has shown his disdain for this, wherever it comes from. Kingdom of Heaven in particular is treated a serial offender for its skewered take on both the Islamic East and Christian West.
 * Shown Their Work: In addition to Nick Hodges' own efforts, he also gives credit where it's due regarding works that actually did their research. The 1970 film Waterloo is praised in particular for not just being faithful to history, but also for recreating the titular Battle of Waterloo as much as possible.
 * What the Hell Hero: Most evident in the videos on both The Patriot and Kingdom of Heaven, whether it's over Idiot Ball moments or utterly hypocritical and ahistorical actions on the part of the protagonists.
 * X Meets Y: The channel could be described as a younger version of Lindybeige or Sargon of Akkad in terms of historically-themed content.