To clarify, I don't just mean a character who doesn't look tough, or who you wouldn't think was tough based on appearance or on their first few minutes on screen, because given the way most kick-ass women are cast that would be nearly all of them. I mean characters who after getting to know the characters you were still surprised when later on it turned out they coud kick ass. Like Willow, she starts out so meek and sweet, you wouldn't have expected her to become an uber witch. Or River, she seemed to childlike and damaged to be as kick-ass as she turned out to be.

I love all 3 so I clicked randomly :) I'm glad I got Mellie. I love Willow and River (and River is a better character) but Mellie was the biggest surprise.

well i think we could consider her ! i mean i never thought she could kick so much ass, but shes just craazy !

Only because I feel like Mellie is the only real "surprise." All the rest, we had inklings that they had greatness in their future but Mellie's switch was literally in seconds. Willow, her change was gradual and awesome, and River you knew something was up because there had to be a reason she was being hunted by the Alliance. As for Lois, well, I watched Superman the Animated Series, so it's no surprise to me that she was an asskicker in Smallville. I mean, StaS was building up to that with their version of her character.

Also, Mellie was the first person that came to mind when I saw this question.

I was really torn between Willow and Mellie. I went with Mellie for the same reasons Cinders mentions. She was the biggest surprise. Willow's transformation was gradual and River- I kind of always figured she could do anything- from physics to dance to ass kicking! LOL So her turning out to be a badass wasn't exactly a surprise for me. :)
As for Lois, I stopped watching Smallville shortly after she was introduced. Not due to her! I just lost interest in it.

I had to add Cordy, because when we first meet her in Buffy, she seems, well, not harmless exactly, but you don't expect her to kick ass in the end.

CORDYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

I agree with renrae ^^

Yeah same, like willow, cordy was more gradual (tho willow was more powerful lol but still awesome)

River...i always expected to explode any minute

Mellie - wouldnt know, havent watched dollhouse yet (im in australia its not on yet here)

Lois Lane - cmon that girl can kick, bitch, cry and bitch her way outta things (plus smallville is like the prelude to the superman movies)

I actually wasn't surprised by Cordy. She was always strong and confident. Willow, on the other hand, is so meek and sweet in the beginning. It was really surprising for her to become the powerful uber-witch that she turned into.

I love love love love love her!

I wasn't a big fan of Cordy on BtVS, but on Angel they really developed her character and she became one of my all time favorite ass-kickers.

When i watched Buffy i thought Cordelia was kind of ignorant but in a good way and i liked her just fine but then in angel it's like she a different character. She's my favorite character like ever.