Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 1.
An extensive dream sequence made up of several scenes from the Star Wars prequels in Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 1 may require explanation for those whose memory of the prequel movies is foggy. The past often predicts the future, as William Shakespeare noted in his play The Tempest, where he said "What's past is prologue." This idea is a literal truth in the reality of Star Wars, where several characters have been shown to have precognitive dreams and clairvoyant visions.
The power of dreams was established early on in the formation of the Star Wars universe. When Yoda first trained Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back, he showed him how he could use the Force to view "... other places, other thoughts, the future, the past (and) old friends long gone." Luke quickly used this ability to foresee the ambush that endangered Han and Leia on Bespin and rushed off to rescue them, though it was obvious they were being used by Darth Vader to set a trap for Luke. The Star Wars prequels further cemented the significance of dream visions to the Skywalker Saga, by establishing that Anakin Skywalker had dreams of the future which led to his becoming a Jedi Knight as a child and, later, pushed him to betray the Jedi Order seeking to avert his visions of Padmé Amidala's death.
It is unclear if Obi-Wan Kenobi might have the same gift for seeing the future in dreams that his apprentice did. However, his dreams of the past do seem to foreshadow certain events to come in the later Star Wars films, if only on a symbolic level. Here is a breakdown of every Star Wars prequel scene in Kenobi's dream sequence from in Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 1.
Padme's Last Words
The first thing Obi-Wan experiences in his dream is not a vision, but an echo of Padmé Amidala's last words after giving birth. With her dying breath, Padmé begged Obi-Wan not to give up on trying to save her husband, saying "...there . . . is good in him. I know there is..." This established Obi-Wan's guilt over his failure to bring about the redemption of Darth Vader, as well as his belief that Darth Vader died at his hand 10 years earlier.
Mustafar
The first thing shown in Obi-Wan's dream is the collapse of the control center on Mustafar where he and Anakin Skywalker dueled in the climax of Revenge of the Sith. Beyond being the last place Obi-Wan saw his apprentice alive, Mustafar had a strong connection to the dark side of the Force and the Sith, having been turned into a volcanic hellscape by a Force-sensitive noblewoman's efforts to resurrect her husband. This history was part of the reason why Darth Vader established his own personal stronghold, Fortress Vader, on the ruins of an old Sith temple on Mustafar, in addition to Vader's personal history with Mustafar. It's possible the Force was attempting to show Obi-Wan where his apprentice is now, so he might still honor Padmé's wish.
Obi Wan's Last Words To Anakin
The next portion of Obi-Wan's dream shows a number of quick cuts from his duel with Anakin on Mustafar 10 years earlier. Obi-Wan's heartbroken final words to his apprentice after he bested him and left him for dead also echo: "You were my brother, Anakin! I loved you." This is followed by a quick cut to the sleeping Obi-Wan looking troubled, further establishing his guilt over his past actions.
The Promise To Qui-Gon Jinn
The next portion of Obi-Wan's dream takes him further into the past, back to the death of his mentor, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, in The Phantom Menace. Obi-Wan's dream recalls how he promised to honor Jinn's belief in the prophecy of the Chosen One and Qui-Gon's dying request that Obi-Wan take Anakin Skywalker on as his apprentice. Obi-Wan did this despite his personal reservations about training the young boy as a Jedi.
Anakin's Reckless Behavior
The next portion of the dream recalls Obi-Wan and Anakin during a wild flying car chase on Coruscant from Attack of the Clones. Obi-Wan hears the echo of Anakin's laughter, reveling in the adventure of the moment even as Obi-Wan recoiled in horror for fear of falling. It haunts Obi-Wan as it was a hint that Obi-Wan's belief that Anakin was always reckless and his fear that Anakin may have always been doomed to fall to darkness were correct.
Darth Vader As Obi-Wan Last Saw Him
This portion of the dream ends with a quick cut of Anakin Skywalker, now more Darth Vader, on Mustafar, amputated and burning as Obi-Wan watches what he thinks are his apprentice's final moments. Obi-Wan also hears Padmé say his name during this scene. Obi-Wan's guilt over failing to save his brother-in-arms haunts him. But it also may be a subtle hint from the Force that Anakin Skywalker still lives.
Yoda's Warning
The third segment of Obi-Wan's dream opens with another echo from Revenge of the Sith, as he recalls Yoda's warning that "only pain will you find" when he tried to access the security footage of the attack on the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Though left to the imagination of the audience, the horrific scene confirmed that Anakin Skywalker had become Darth Vader and fallen under the influence of the Sith, as he helped to execute Order 66 and slaughtered the temple's younglings.
The Death of Qui-Gon Jinn
Again, Obi-Wan's dream flashes back to the death of the Jedi Master who trained him, this time seeing Qui-Gon Jinn being cut down by the Sith Lord Darth Maul. This was, in many ways, the most pivotal moment of the young Kenobi's life, being both the day he transitioned from apprentice to master and when he found his fate forever connected to that of Anakin Skywalker. It's clear he feels he failed his old master.
Obi-Wan Delivers Baby Luke To Owen and Beru Lars
Amid more quick cuts from his duel with Darth Vader on Mustafar and another echo of Padmé's last words, the dream shows Obi-Wan handing over the infant Luke Skywalker to Beru Lars at the end of Revenge of the Sith. Apart from being a symbolic balance to the death of Qui-Gon Jinn a moment earlier, this scene shows the moment that defines Obi-Wan's life as Obi-Wan Kenobi opens, having devoted the last 10 years of his life to watching over Luke on Tatooine.
Like Father, Like Son?
The final unique scene from the Star Wars prequels in Obi-Wan's dreams seems oddly out of place compared to the disturbing imagery of Padmé's death and Anakin's unsavory end. Just before waking from the dream in Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Jedi Master in hiding recalls a young Anakin Skywalker and his accidentally taking control of a ship during the Battle for Naboo in The Phantom Menace. The brief flash of young Anakin at the controls of a starfighter recalls the game of pretend Obi-Wan observed earlier that day while spying on the young Luke Skywalker and reaffirms Obi-Wan's determination to see Luke properly trained.
New episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi release Wednesdays on Disney+.