Elsa Mars met her timely end in the finale of AHS: Freak Show. But does her character arc ring any bells for fans of Murphy’s other hit production?

There is no denying the fact that Ryan Murphy is one busy man. Not only is he the showrunner on two hit television series, AHS and Glee, he also has two more in development and his IMDB list is nothing to snuff at.

More often than not Murphy’s desire to leave no stone unturned gets the better of his productions. That is the case for the current season of AHS and the last few seasons of Glee.

Female leads who are destined for greatness are well and fine. Ryan Murphy can write a strong female character in his sleep. However, it is the rest of the show that suffers when his wealth of creativity spills over, leaving the B characters of the shows to tackle the heavy lifting.

Rachel Berry is the guiding light of the Glee ship. Her ruthless ambition, strokes of improbable luck, and unfailing support of her friends all cater to making sure Rachel Berry remains on top. Swap out Rachel Berry with Elsa Mars and their two tales are seemingly identical. Sure, there are some striking differences. Elsa is not swinging around lockers or begging Whoopie Goldberg for a chance to sing. And Rachel Berry is not exactly murdering her best friend or performing without prosthetic legs. But at their core, the relentless pursuit of fame does lead them both the on paths of betrayal and near stalking charges. Both stories toss a strong supporting cast under the bus.

Take a look at Glee for starters. What problems have Kurt, Quinn, Santana, and Sam not endured? Homelessness, eating disorders, teenage pregnancy, disabilities, coming out stories, bullying. The list can go on from there. Those stories are often tied in various combinations with Rachel Berry serving as the cheerleader or doting friend when it is convenient for her to do so.

Now switch to AHS. Elsa Mars, on the surface at least, is a matronly figure who saved the lives of the Freaks she discovered along her journey. They are indebted to her generosity and compassion. But for every good deed, Elsa turned a profit. She turned a blind eye to the destruction in her midst when Hollywood came calling.

With every bridge burned behind them, Elsa and Rachel had their dreams realized. Rachel took the lead in Funny Girl on Broadway, Elsa the late night variety hour and walk of fame. And what happened next? They both grew lonely and bored.

Elsa’s final moments on AHS find her back in the welcoming arms of her Freak Show. And while Rachel Berry’s final moments are still a few episodes away, she too has returned home to the only place she was ever truly accepted, blinding ambition and all.

It’s not a new story, by any means. But it is one that has caused audiences of both shows to question whether the payoff for one character was worth watching other fan favorites be built up only to be torn down and tossed aside? Creators should not be at the mercy of their fans, but sometimes their vision is clouded by lofty ideas that feel cheated or undeserving for their leads.

The overkill of too many characters, story lines, and plot twists lose sight of the vision at the heart of these shows. If AHS: Freak Show was Elsa’s to tell, then perhaps there wasn’t room for a bill of 10+ regular stars. If Glee has always been the Rachel Berry show, then why introduce a room of new talented choir members only to purge them from the roster?

Keep it simple and perhaps the bigger stories will earn a more satisfying end.

Be sure to check out Glee season 6, episode 4 tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET on FOX and keep an eye out for AHS season 5 news as it is announced!