Backtrack: The Best and Worst of April Entertainment

Let's be honest — Captain America and Black Widow weren't anyone's favorite Avengers — at least, not before the release of this month's Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The superhero sequel made both of those characters more entertaining, not to mention the fact that the film is quite relevant in the Marvel universe for its big S.H.I.E.L.D. twist. The movie also spent a few weeks at the top of the box office, making it the unofficial first blockbuster of the season.

Game of Thrones deaths generally don't shock us that much anymore (especially since the Red Wedding), but this month's death is not only shocking, it's actually . . . kind of great. Joffrey dies at his own wedding, having been poisoned by the teamwork of Lady Olenna Tyrell and Littlefinger. Normally a shocking murder is an occasion for grief, but in Joffrey's case, there hasn't been any character more deserving.

We thought the trailer for The Fault in Our Stars was a tearjerker, and then the trailer for If I Stay came along. Starring Chloë Moretz as a teen who gets into a car crash and has to choose to stay on earth or die, it's heavy, to say the least. Bring on the tissues!

Spoiler alert, guys. Scandal isn't known for shying away from, well, scandal, but killing off Fitz and Mellie's son on the finale is a wicked turn. Little Jerry was just a kid! Fitz isn't a terribly sympathetic character, but you can't help but feel for the guy as he melts down in the Oval Office. And to think he was poisoned at the orders of a man who wants to keep his daughter away from Fitz. It's like a Shakespearean tragedy. Or Game of Thrones.

And the late-night shake-ups continue! At the beginning of the month, we were pretty floored when David Letterman announced his retirement, and a week later, when Stephen Colbert was announced as his replacement. We can't think of a more worthy recipient of the job, and honestly, we're most excited to see Colbert be the real Colbert.

Ever since we gobbled up Gillian Flynn's bestseller Gone Girl, we've been dying for a glimpse of the movie. We finally got a long look in the Gone Girl trailer, but we still have so many questions: Will Ben Affleck be the perfect Nick? Can we please see some footage without music playing over it? Where's Neil Patrick Harris? And finally, why "She"? We'll never be able to hear that song the same way again.

For a mild-mannered sitcom, Parks and Recreation really brought out the big guns with its finale. Michelle Obama, Jon Hamm, and a whole lot of musicians guest starred, but it was the final moments that surprised us the most. The show jumped forward three years, and next season — which will likely be its last — will take place at that time in Pawnee. Pretty crazy for Indiana!

Mrs. Doubtfire was a pretty perfect movie, which is why we were surprised when news of a sequel was announced earlier this month. Some of the original actors aren't even acting anymore, so we're also wondering what will happen. Robin Williams is attached though, so I guess that's all that matters.

Though we were a little conflicted when Mindy and Danny first kissed, when the show came back and they were totally on, we loved it. Their relationship was as funny and cute as their flirtation had been — until it wasn't. Danny breaks it off before they really get anywhere, in a situation that felt real and sad. But we can't be bummed for too long, because the season finale pictures look like we're heading toward a makeup!

Despite having a huge movie star on the marquee — Johnny Depp — sci-fi thriller Transcendence crashed and burned at the box office. With a relatively tiny haul for such a big-budget movie (it only earned $11.5 million in its opening weekend), it's Depp's lowest-opening film ever. Guess the subject matter just didn't transcend.

Pitch Perfect star Anna Kendrick was, well, pitch perfect when she hosted Saturday Night Live this month. The musical theater veteran kicked off her episode with a Beauty and the Beast-inspired monologue, then parodied The Little Mermaid in another skit, and got a song about dongs all over the world stuck in our heads.

Mad Men returned for season seven this month, and not too much has changed since we saw the characters last — aside from Pete Campbell and his new sunny disposition. Turns out the West Coast looks good on Pete, and he's even a hugger now (it may also have something to do with his new blond squeeze). Mr. Campbell, you are a mystery we love to hate.