Speaking of Poe and Rey, it is definitely something I don’t prefer, but I feel like I understand why Colin included it.

I think Colin wanted one of the things Rey had to deal with be the dilemma between romantic love and the Jedi path, and her not denying love was meant to be an acknowledgement of, “Love doesn’t make us weak, but strong.” The old ways of non-attachment and fearing love was counterproductive for the Jedi. Colin interpreted the conclusion Kylo’s arc in TLJ as definitively choosing the dark side, and the potential for that relationship ended. Since Finn and Rose were set up as a thing, it really only leaves Poe to have that necessary romance for Rey. I have a friend who ships them, so when I told her that it actually happened in Colin’s script it blew her mind.

I think what bothers me the most about it though is that I feel like the stronger relationship for the trilogy is clearly between Rey and Ben, and that dilemma of love and being a Jedi should have been explored between them. Their relationship should’ve paralleled Anakin and Padme’s, but ended with a happy ending. I understand why Colin went down this path, I get the logic of it, but I definitely think it would’ve been the easier, poorer choice.

EDIT: Thanks Dom!