complexity
Even though she appears in a grand total of nine episode (ten if you include her final cameo), Reina is a really difficult character to understand. She is absolutely vital to everything that happens in the storyline — from triggering the Great Quake to birthing Rihoko and creating the Cloneblades, Reina was involved in it all. The woman herself however, is something of a mystery. Most of her actions take place off-screen and in the past — in fact, almost everything we know of her history is told to us by the embittered Takayama. Can we trust his assessment of her character? Probably not. So what, if anything, do we actually know of Reina?
01. She wants to know it all
Reina wants to know everything about herself, both physically and mentally. All of her actions are based around a strong desire to be well-versed in her own abilities and limits. Motherhood is the best example we see if this behaviour through the course of the series. To Reina, bearing and raising a child is a means to test her abilities as both Neo-gene and woman. She takes this experiment very seriously and is frequently seen dictating notes about her thoughts and behaviours in relation to being a mother.
In addition, we see that she is constantly trying to learn more about the limits of the Cloneblades she helped to create. When it becomes clear that she successfully made a device identical to the Witchblade right down to its ability to destroy its wielder, she becomes fascinated by its impact on her. How will she deal with impending doom? Will her body break down in a manner identical to Shiori's? What, if anything, can be done to prevent others from suffering similarly? Reina is all about asking questions and attempting to uncover the answers for herself.
02. she keeps control of her emotions
Reina appears clinical in her approach to absolutely everything. From meeting her daughter for the first time right through to fighting for her life, little ruffles Reina's stony exterior. This is frequently interpreted (by characters and fans alike) as an inability to feel, a coldness that extends to her core. Nothing could be further from the truth — Reina feels deeply, she simply has the strength to repress these emotions. When her daughter is threatened she is concerned and desperate to protect her, but she does not crumble into an emotional wreck. Instead, she swallows hard and keeps control.
Exactly why she feels compelled to keep her sentiments in check is never revealed, though being a genetically engineered scientist is almost explanation enough. She is a professional designed to be a professional, letting unchecked feeling seep through into NSWF work would undoubtedly be frowned upon. Letting your emotions get the better of you seems to be a real issue when it comes to Sisters staying alive too. Not to mention that Reina finds it difficult to ascertain the significance behind what she actually feels — things make her happy and sad, but she doesn't have the experience necessary to label these sensations. It's little wonder that Reina keeps her feelings on a short leash — being a normal human is unnecessarily complicated and not particularly conducive to betterment in her very limited world view.
03. motherhood is key
Being a mother is at the absolute core of Reina's character. It is her final frontier, the facet of human life she fathoms the least and wishes to understand the most. When she first toyed with the idea of reproducing, it seemed clear that she saw having a child as a challenge she was up for. She gave birth to Rihoko, stole the Witchblade and sought to take both her precious experiments away from Douji and the NSWF. Only this wasn't to be and Reina's foray into the world of human motherhood was over before it began. Rihoko was lost and Reina was forced to continue working on other experiments instead.
It should be noted that Reina never intended to be rid of Rihoko. When she ran away with baby and blade in tow, she was seeking to keep them both. Fate stepped in and she wound up with neither, but her intent all along was to take and raise Rihoko herself. When she re-establishes contact with her daughter, she is given a second chance at motherhood — another opportunity to test her maternal capabilities.
For Reina, motherhood slots into her desire to have it all. Once Rihoko is in her care, Reina is continually challenged by what it means to be a normal human mother. What she knows of parenting comes from books not heart, and this shows when Rihoko tries to connect with her mother on an emotional level. Reina doesn't understand — if she follows the "recipe" for motherhood precisely, why is it that she cannot comprehend her daughter? For Reina, whose intelligence is unparalleled, having something that she genuinely cannot wrap her head around makes for a rare test. Motherhood is Reina's greatest challenge, but ultimately her greatest accomplishment — even if her experience as a mother is brief and devoid of the answers she seeks.