What is... a flashforward vs a flashback?
A flashback is a narrative device that allows the audience to get a glimpe into a scene that has already happened. We are seeing/reading about something that cannot be changed anymore and that we are seeing the consequences of in the real time. It is often used to show a character's backstory or to give hints about something that happened before.
A flashforward is not used as often as its counterpart. It's when a scene is shown, that hasn't happened yet, but that will happen in the future. It's often used as a hook to keep the audience interested in finding out how current events lead to the events shown in the flashforward.
Both narrative devices can add layers to the storytelling and provide additional insights into the happenings before and after. One shows how we got here and the other one shows what the current actions will lead to.
