There is no special lighting: they are taken as from a moving car on a bumpy road. The effect of these things is that a strong impression is given of New York as a fast moving place, where, however, ordinary people lead their ordinary lives. The man in the car, for example, seems to be on his way home from work. The fact that he may work as a gangster, or in some shady business, is somewhat irrelevant; he's still doing the ordinary thing of driving home from work, stopping as everyone else does to pay his toll as he leaves the highway, driving through an ordinary, everyday suburban neighbourhood on the way home.
The clip also suggests the idea of New York as a rough, tough society, and a place with a certain sleaziness under the surface. Particular emphasis is placed on the multicultural society that is New York. The idea of a strong Italian influence, shown in diegetic text such as the pizzeria signs, reinforces an idea of a Mafia connection, which ties in to the impression of a gangster society. The shots of the man in the car, who looks as though he is of Italian background, also relate to a gangster theme. There are extreme close ups of his cigar, his expensive heavy jewellery, all of which establish his character: this man is a wealthy gangster. .
The show, if it had a gender, would be male. This masculinity is shown in every individual part of the opening sequence, especially the choice of music. The music, which has a strong, heavy beat, lyrics relating to guns and a deep male vocal, is interesting in that it too suggests a sleazy side to the city, also hinting at a gun culture. The title, which, being white on black has great contrast, comes on to the screen from left to right, emphasising the movement of the car, also features a gun as one of the letters. This too implies a gun culture.
Manhattan, on the other hand, places far greater emphasis on the traditional, cool, sophisticated image of New York as a city of dreams, of bright lights and a spectacularly beautiful man made horizon.
