How are things/ How are things going on?
Way to ask how is everything going?

Things are pretty bad - Talking about low situations in life
Things are pretty bad for me right now, I lost my job.

Things are looking up - Everything is going well.
Things are looking up for me.

What do you think about the whole thing?
To ask for an opinion.

The whole thing looks messed up .
To talk about an issue or a problem.