A couple of days back, I stumbled upon a subreddit asking the question on everyone’s mind – “What happened to Oversimplified?” My curiosity was piqued, so I set out on a mission to learn everything I possibly could.

I discovered that “OverSimplified” is a YouTube channel that’s been around since the days of dial-up internet (2006), back when it was known as “Webzwithaz” (which sounds like a username only a 90s hacker would use). Despite their infrequent upload schedule (once every six months, give or take), they’ve managed to gather a following of 7.2 million subscribers – proof that quality trumps quantity.

So, what’s their secret to success? Simple: they’ve mastered the art of turning history into hilarious entertainment. Their formula?

  1. Start with an animated intro,
  2. Toss in some jokes that range in historical accuracy,
  3. Sprinkle in some hand-drawn characters,
  4. Add a dash of the narrator’s impressive impressions and musical references,

And boom, you’ve got yourself a hit channel!

These videos are perfect for entertaining kids while introducing them to complex topics like the civil war and the cold war. Even a 5-year-old could understand. Well, sort of. The seamless flow of episodes makes it a perfect choice for binge-watching (guilty as charged). 

Plus, the narrator always manages to sneak in a lesson about the consequences of our actions, big and small, and poses the age-old question, “Can one person really make a difference?” Spoiler alert: the jury’s still out on that one.

So, give it a watch and see if you become a fan too. And if you have any other similar channels in mind, I’m always on the lookout for my next binge-watch fix.

Yours,

Nikita

Other than his iconic catchphrase, “underidoderidoderiododeriodoo,” Mr Evil Churchill also had a witty take on history: “Those who fail to learn from it are doomed to repeat it.” So, do yourself a favour and spread the word by forwarding this JOT to anyone and everyone who you think might have an appreciation for history – unless, of course, you want to keep repeating it… forever.