Since 2015 Marvel has been trying to emulate on Netflix the success it’s had in theaters. They’ve approached both mediums with a similar strategy: to establish characters and stories individually and let them grow until they can finally bring all the pieces together in “The Defenders.”

For the most part, Marvel has been successful with “Daredevil” and “Jessica Jones,” which both aired in 2015, and “Luke Cage,” which premiered in 2016. Each had different personalities and internal conflicts but find their own niche in “The Defenders.”

“Daredevil” had dazzling fight choreography and explored the Catholic guilt inside Matt Murdock, played by Charlie Cox; “Jessica Jones” touched on abusive relationships and “Luke Cage” was about an invincible man who simply wanted to do the right thing for his community. “Iron Fist,” released March 17, wasn’t as beloved, but three out four is still a great batting average.

“The Defenders” deserves applause just for trying to squeeze four shows into something cohesive. Marvel has no template to go off here; no other show has even attempted a crossover of this size.

Fans have no reason to fear, however, because, while “Defenders” hits some turbulence mid-flight, it arrives safely in one piece thanks to the strength of its leads. Cox, Krysten Ritter and Mike Colter, who play Jessica Jones and Luke Cage respectively, all feel right at home as their superhero counterparts. Colter’s performance is especially surprising as he’s still relatively unknown, but his portrayal of Cage has charm and sensitivity in spades, and it is already impossible to imagine anyone else in the role.

The supporting cast has to be mentioned as well. Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Anne Moss, Élodie Young and Scott Glenn all give strong performances. With a cast this stacked, it’s a shame there are only eight episodes.

Iron Fist, played by Finn Jones, is the only one who feels like he’s struggling here. He’s serviceable, but there’s an unease to his performance, as if Jones is still trying to figure out who exactly his character is beyond a Bruce Wayne imitation. It would also be nice if he stopped declaring he’s “The Immortal Iron Fist” to every single person he meets.

As the show begins, the heroes are in disarray. Iron Fist is traveling the world in search of a mysterious criminal organization called The Hand. Cage is wasting away in prison and Jessica Jones is scarred and even more bitter than usual after her encounter with the sociopathic Kilgrave. Murdock has even retired from fighting crime and has returned to lawyering, determined not to allow his extracurricular activities from putting his loved ones in danger.

When The Hand turns its attention to New York and young men start disappearing from the streets of Harlem, the paths of the four heroes begin to intersect. Eventually, the gang find themselves in the crossfire of an ancient battle where New York itself is on the line.

The secret strength of these shows has always been strong character work that grounds the action scenes. The Defenders themselves have great chemistry with each other and the sharp dialogue Marvel is associated with is on display.

Behind the fighting and action, there are some clever uses of color. All of the heroes, as well as a few villains, are associated with primary hues. Daredevil grabs a drink in a bar with deep red lights, Jessica Jones does research in her dreary, dull blue apartment and so forth. When the four finally meet during a hallway brawl, the walls are white to reflect the four hues and heroes coming together.

The show does have some problems, specifically pacing issues. “Defenders” is already a third over by the time the heroes team up, but because so many gears are turning in each episode, everything still feels bizarrely rushed. The number of times New York has gotten attacked by mystical ninjas at this point is also starting to stretch believability.

“Defenders” may not be perfect, but it still succeeds as an enjoyable action-filled good time. Fans who have been waiting for this massively ambitious crossover will not be disappointed.