Wikipedia:Top 25 Report/February 18 to 24, 2018

Most Popular Wikipedia Articles of the Week (February 18 to 24, 2018)

Prepared with commentary by Stormy clouds and igordebraga

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Wakanda on Ice

Wikipedia? More like Wakandapedia, am I right?: Following on from last week's report, we see a significant number of repeat entries, with the same three items dominating the agenda completely - the all-encompassing cinematic powerhouse that is Black Panther, the Winter Olympics in South Korea, and the fallout of the school shooting in Parkland. However, other items managed to penetrate the list outside of this triad, such as a deceased pastor (#3) and a sprinkling of r/TIL items from Reddit (thanks, guys). All in all, the list is lacking in diversity amongst its items, which is ironic given the diversity of the film which controls it. Anyway, it is nonetheless of interest. After two weeks atop the report, I can state "Wakanda Forever" indeed.

Without any further macroscopic ruminations on the list, for the week of February 18 to 24, 2017, the 25 most popular articles on Wikipedia, as determined from the WP:5000 report were:

Rank	Article	Class	Views	Image	Notes
1	Black Panther (film)		3,426,528		Wakanda forever! Two years after his film debut in Captain America: Civil War, King T'Challa stars in a compelling, provocative and entertaining solo film that is one of the most African movies ever, even if it was made by a filmmaker from Oakland (#23). Along with much critical praise, Black Panther is also wrecking up box office records, grossing $700 million in less than two weeks.
2	Sylvester Stallone		2,748,618		As if shock death reports aren't enough, sometimes the internet decides to kill famous people before their time. The latest victim of such a thing was Stallone, with a rumor that he had died of cancer driving readers to his page, but he was thankfully alive to call out on the "stupidity". In the meantime, he prepares to return as Rocky Balboa in the sequel for Creed, whose director (#23) and main actor (#5) received Sly's compliments for their work in Black Panther (#1).
3	Billy Graham		1,662,485		"The only boy who could ever teach me, was the son of a preacher man." Graham is arguably the second most influential preacher of recent memory, and over the span of his 99-year long earthly career, he used his pulpit to deliver sermon and speech to billions of adherents. While many may not have agreed with his biblical interpretations, Graham's massive impact is undeniable, as he managed to become a close aide for multiple presidents, and a strong supporter of the Civil Rights Movement. Christianity lost one on its bastions this week, and curious Wikipedians journeyed to parse the page of the evangelist, who led his congregation in some slightly less violent crusades...
4	2018 Winter Olympics		1,264,289		Both writers here aren't much interested in the Winter Games - one's country never does well in winter sports, the other's nation barely has snow - but can't deny this year's events had some fun moments. And being in South Korea, it serves as preparation for how the 2020 Summer Olympics will force sports fans to live in the Japan Standard Time.
5	Michael B. Jordan		1,196,642		As the proverb goes, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again" - this saying is more directly applicable to Jordan than most. Nowadays, all Hollywood mainstays (apart from Leo), harbor heroic aspirations, and tie their colors to the mast of one of the superhero universes. However, after Jordan's first effort ended in abject failure, he got a second swing at it, portraying Erik Kilmonger (#25) in the zeitgeist-capturing Black Panther (#1). One would be foolish to question his acting credentials, even if he is doomed to be the other Michael Jordan for perpetuity.
6	Exo (band)		1,175,866		Another entry from the snowy utopia of Pyeongchang now, though a less direct one. Exo are a very popular K-pop group, but they have not yet seeped into Western culture like some of their peers. However, after performing at the closing ceremony in dramatic and entertaining fashion, they have hit the headlines in the West. Perhaps they can cross the Pacific and become superstars stateside. I may not have too much of an affinity for their lyrics, but their music cannot be worse than the supposed perfection of current compositions
7	Chadwick Boseman		1,000,935		A truly excellent actor, Boseman portrays the titular King T'Challa in Black Panther (#1), donning the costume he first took on in Captain America: Civil War once again. Despite the presence of a massive number of burgeoning and talented black actors appearing in the film, Boseman still shines above and beyond as he delivers a captivating and nuanced performance.
8	Lindsey Vonn		982,028		American alpine skier Vonn got a bronze in the downhill, a reminder that she's still a good athlete in spite of the controversy she raised following negative comments regarding President Donald Trump, which even led some enraged people online to brand Vonn as anti-American and root for her failure. I feel that this is anti-thetical to the Olympic spirit myself, and should be unequivocally condemned.
9	Tessa Virtue		930,176		The Canadian figure skater is part of a dynamic duo with Scott Moir (#16), who competed, with golden success, in Pyeongchang. However, this is not the reason why her figures have been propelled upwards. Rather, following a performance best characterised as steamy on St. Valentine's Day, the internet became convinced that the duo were in love, despite their insistence to the contrary. So, it appears, the highly successful skaters are merely platonic friends, and their relationship is professional rather than amorous. Eh, still a better love story than Twilight.
10	Curling		615,273		The Winter Olympics are not as interesting as the Summer ones, specially when offered speed (sledding, hockey), dangerous stunts (skiing and snowboarding), and beauty (figure skating), the broadcasters dedicate so much time to curling, this sport revolving around throwing rocks and sweeping ice that was ripe for a song parody.
11	Black Panther (comics)		754,040		T'Challa is the king of the fictional Wakanda, and as such controls vast swathes of vibranium. The metal, blended as an alloy with adamantium to form Captain America's shield, is worth titanic amounts of money according to Marvel canon. Thanks to the film adaptation of the character (#1), where he is portrayed by Chadwick Boseman (#7), Marvel Studios could take all of the metal off his hands, and have some change left over after the transaction.
12	Deaths in 2018		635,086		Death is omnipresent, and curiosity for the morbid is a guarantee amongst purveyors of Wikipedia, thus parachuting this list of the fallen into each and every iteration of the Report. This week's congregation is led, rather fittingly, by Billy Graham. (#3)
13	Steven Holcomb		610,934		Last week we had a disgraced former Winter Olympian in Tonya Harding. This week is a deceased one, a bobsledder whose death in the U.S. Olympic Training Center last year was still being felt by his teammates: they wore bracelets with Holcomb's nickname "Night Train" and brought his mother to support them in South Korea.
14	Dua Lipa		610,934		Dua Lipa is the latest sensation on the music scene, with musicphiles the world over embracing her new rules. She has been propelled into the report this week due to the Brit Awards, where she won bigly. Her live performance garnered criticism in some quarters, with accusations of a lack of stage presence being levied at her. However, having bagged four awards, I'm sure that she does not give a f**k.
15	Johnny Weir		609,659		Weir, a former figure skater, is part of a duo with Tara Lipinski on NBC, covering the Winter Olympics. The LGBTQ activist engages audiences daily by commenting on events over in Pyeongchang, and this is drawing many internet users to his article. I can't say that I find the sport too intriguing, but their shared commentary is riveting and humorous, perhaps accounting for their popularity.
16	Scott Moir		584,347		How can you tell if a person cannot be discussed without bringing up someone else? In Moir's case, just look at our images of him on Commons: all of them also have Tessa Virtue (#9). No wonder they both work really well together - their gold in the 2010 Olympics, pictured to the left, is now joined by two others in 2018 - and have fans wondering if they're a couple.
17	Tara Lipinski		551,687		The former figure skater and Olympic champion is part of NBC's analysis panel for the Winter Olympics (#3) alongside her co-anchor, Johnny Weir (#15). Perhaps her ubiquity on the Peacock network has propelled her figures on Wikipedia upwards, as has her sharp critiques of the skaters. Living outside of the US, I cannot say that I am too familiar with Lipinski and her credentials to analyse the Winter Olympics, but the last syllable of her surname is irrefutably apt.
18	Stoneman Douglas High School shooting		572,136		Last week, I discussed the need, the absolute and irrefutable prerogative, to implement legislation to curb firearms use in the United States of America. However, it has become apparent to me that such advice will not be heeded, and to repeat it is redundant. The blood of the 17 victims is barely even dry, and their schoolmates and colleagues are doing every thing in their power to ensure that their loss is not futile - even if they are branded as actors by some deplorable individuals. The grand old solution to this predicament - let's arm the teachers, and turn schools into a live playthrough of a COD game. More children will die. This does not elsewhere. But, sure, what is the cost of dead kids when you get to hang on to a AR-15 in case the government goes rogue and you need it to stop them?
19	Steller's sea cow		564,342		Having being somewhat quiet in recent iterations of the report, the eminently intellectual subreddit that is r/TIL strikes back. Without them, this list would be significantly less diverse and entertaining. This is a particularly intriguing entry, focusing on a massive extinct dugong. Good to see a Featured Article attracting attention as well.
20	Columbine High School massacre		550,392		Perhaps the most infamous of the many, many, many school shootings stateside, the Columbine massacre makes it way on top of the list again. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 13 people and then themselves. Up until the Florida shooting (#18), it was the worst massacre to occur at a high school. Columbine occurred in the 1990s, before 9/11, and reminded the USA of the heinous evil which can manifest itself, and affected the culture of the era to a large extent accordingly. Not enough to change anything, though.
21	Perpetual stew		547,204		Another Reddit contribution, as someone learned about this collaborative culinary concoction, where the pot is never emptied as people keep adding new ingredients and liquid. Wonder if any of those stews started with a stone.
22	Letitia Wright		540,218		This week's report concludes with a Wakandan quartet, with all four items related directly to the riveting and riotously successful box office behemoth that tops this list. Highest placed, understandably, is the most obscure of the bunch - Letitia Wright, who portrays T'Challa's sister in the film. This is a breakthrough role for the British actor, building upon a rigid foundation laid by Charlie Brooker. She was captivating in that part, and is clever and charming as Shuri.
23	Ryan Coogler		518,075		Next up, we have the director of the watercooler work, Ryan Coogler. He previously made the astounding Fruitvale Station and subsequently turned what should have been a routine franchise release into one of the best films of 2015. It is of little surprise to cinephiles, therefore, that even within the rigid confines of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he produced a sublime superhero film. Coogler has an exceptionally bright future ahead of him, with the opportunity to become a seminal African-American director, a subset which Hollywood has traditionally neglected.
24	Lupita Nyong'o		509,620		Next up is Lupita Nyong'o, one of the most highly regarded black actresses currently working in film. Having bagged a (well deserved) Oscar for 12 Years a Slave, and appearing in one of the most memorable photos of the decade, Nyong'o has moved on to franchise fare, initially appearing as Maz Kanata in every nerd's second favourite space themed franchise, and now as Nakia in Black Panther. While playing the stereotypical love interest role, Nyong'o's character is driven, dogged, and determined - qualities that the actress herself will require if her new ambition is to succeed.
25	Erik Killmonger		505,368		As we began this report with Black Panther in the ascendancy, it is only fitting that we conclude with its antagonist. Portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, and adorned in a fierce tribal mask, Kilmonger spends the film on a crusade, determined to use the advanced technology of Wakanda to liberate his American brethren. However, while this pursuit may perhaps curry favour and support amongst a cinematic audience, Kilmonger is far too ruthless and repugnant an individual to endorse over T'Challa. He attempts to usurp the crown, and anarchic chaos ensues. I shan't continue with this synopsis any longer, but suffice it to say that the film was very entertaining - anyone on the fence should join the masses and watch it, as you are unlikely to be disappointed.