And it’s true, Poe’s attack is perfunctory, but it feels similar to Rey’s battle with Kylo. Han isn’t chained up somewhere while Kylo twirls his mustache and laughs maniacally, Han is dead. Rey really has no reason to fight Kylo other than he’s a threat that must be dealt with. All she has is vengeance and the will to survive, there is no way to win everything. Both Rey and Poe can only hope for a Pyrrhic victory at this point.
Kylo’s mission is to kidnap Rey and bring her to Snoke. Rey’s fighting to prevent that from happening, and to get Kylo out of the way so she can bring Finn to safety. Unlike Poe, they didn’t go on a mission to fight Kylo or anything, they’re just trying to escape. Han has nothing to do with any of that.
Lightsaber battles are often not much more than good guy is supposed to fight bad guy (especially in the prequels) but this one definitely has a purpose beyond that.
Damn, I just rewatched that lightsaber fight and I really have come to appreciate it more and more. Even the choreography makes me so happy. They aren’t dancing around and just touching each others sabers, it actually feels like a legitimate duel.