Use of flashbacks in film and television

The use of flashbacks in film and television help the audience uncover a piece of information about the plot, the most common genre of television and film that uses flashbacks is crime. The crime genre is the easiest to use flashbacks as it reveals the past act of the antagonist. Also fkashbacks can reveal some of the personal life in the protagonist - their fatal flaw. To summerise this device helps the audience empathise with the protagonist, as well as giving the audience a greater understanding of the narrative.

Above is a clip from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, where we see the main protagonist 'Grisom' have a flashback which exposes his fatal flaw, whilst making the audience understand and empathise.