User Reviews

all things is different. Plain and simple. If you are looking for a standard, creepy, mysterious x-file, you are not going to find it here. Gillian Anderson wrote and directed this episode that shows a side of Scully we haven't seen.

I like how Gillian gets the rhythm of the episode going with the dripping water. It sets the tone. The Moby music is different but nice. Mark Snow did a nice job of incorporating it into his score. Three is a significant number in this episode. I don't know why. I know that three is a good karmic number. The first slide shows three crop circles, Waterston's room number is 306. Colleen's house number is 3.

Gillian uses a lot of slow motion during the course of the episode, mostly to good effect. I thought the one unnecessary use of slow motion was when Scully was receiving the folder from the nurse. In the episode audio commentary Gillian said that it was hard getting the tapping pencil to be rhythmic. I agree.

I like how Scully hides from the daughter behind the magazine. The name of the magazine is Feng Shui Life Magazine. Hmmm. Once she goes into his room, there's this rhythmic pinging sound. I felt it was out of place. When she goes home, the toggle(I got this from the audio commentary as well) is knocking against the wall. The rhythms are nice when they are a natural sound, like the water dripping or the toggle knocking, but that pinging in his room is just out of place. Scully has a Mac with a web cam on the top of it. I never knew Scully was this techno-savvy. Who is she tele-conferencing with from home? Mulder?

Gillian's opening shots for scenes start with shots on a specific object then zoom out. As mentioned in her commentary, there are contrasts between the two hospital rooms. #304 is red, brown, warm, and happy. #306 is blue, dark, and sad. Nice use of contrasts.

My favorite line of Scully's is when she's saving Waterston's life. "Who's paying attention?!?!?" Taking control. Just like in the movie. After he goes into a coma, it looks like a music video as Scully walks into a D.C. Chinatown. I like how the creaking sign interrupts the music. The scene of the transparent Waterston was weird. Gillian said that her vision in the Buddhist temple was her attempt at adding a paranormal aspect to the episode.

Another thing I dislike about the episode is Scully having the guy come in to do the new age/psychic kind of healing of Waterston. It is out of character for her. That's something her sister Melissa would of done, not Scully. Scully's dream sequence is kind of freaky. I like how later the shot transitions from the back of Waterston's head to Scully's head.

It's interesting how the pony-tail lady turns into Mulder at the end. However, the jacket and hat that Mulder is wearing are not his color or style. It is out of character for him. Although, I do like his hat "Stone Henge Rocks".

Lastly, some additional items from GA's commentary. She had to shorten her script considerably. Her original script made it more obvious that she did not have an affair with Waterston. She broke it off when she found out he was married so that she wouldn't break up his family. However, it was too late. Waterston's wife suspected he had an affair and hung herself. Gruesome. Also, the cardiac arrest scene was originally one shot like in 'Triangle', but GA had to do close-ups to add more drama to the scene. And finally, Gillian says she loves the final scene of the episode.

This is a good hour of television. Gillian Anderson does so me interesting camera work that is not standard for the X-Files. The few things that are out of character for Mulder and Scully and the lack of it being a traditional x-file prevents it from being in the top tier of X-Files episodes. all things is not everyone's cup of tea, for sure, but it shows that Gillian Anderson can do more than just act.

How do we convey profound connection to an 'other'? How can we feel strongly towards spirituality that we don't believe in? Why do we feel obligated towards figures of the distant past? How can a simple situation overwhelm us?

All Things deals with one of the most difficult objects to film: intangible emotions. Emotions that go beyond being sad, happy, or confused. Emotions that make you sit down and really think out: "What the hell was I just feeling?" I've read comments about this episode that complain that it isn't an X-File. In the tradition of Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles, I ask: Why explore other worlds when there is so much of ourselves left unexplored? How well do we really understand these vague, alien dynamics we feel towards ourselves and others? Gillian Anderson offers a depictions of these difficult emotions through original and deeply artistic direction, paired with masterful acting.

On top of that, All Things provides an new and interesting lens through which we can view Scully. She can seem utterly in control of her environments and competent as an individual, yet internally feel lost, confused, and perhaps helpless. Unfortunately, this is a concept that seasons eight and nine failed to follow through with. Instead, we are to settle with just one brief, beautiful glimpse into the potential of Scully's character. All in all, this isn't the slickest X-File, but it is certainly the most emotional for me. Submit to Gillian Anderson's artistic vision and she will show you the way.

All things is a very good episode even if it is not so much an X-File. While it is not necessarily my usual choice of entertainment (ie a little too new age-ish) I still enjoy learning about Scully in this episode. They way I see it there's some kind of guardian angel that is causing seemingly random events so that Scully can learn a lesson and realize what she is supposed to be doing with her life. I love that part where the ponytailed girl turns into Mulder and he's wearing the Stone Henge Rocks cap. What a nerd. This also serves as a confirmation for Scully that she is doing the right thing with her life since she is led back to Mulder at the end. Another high point for this episode is the awesome "The Sky is Broken" by Moby. I love that song and I love the scenes where they play it and show Scully walking in slow motion down the street with the flowers dangling at her side. I give this episode an 8/10.

When Mulder gets set for a trip to England, Scully accidentally discovers that former lover Daniel Waterston is in hospital, seriously ill.

Very different, I can imagine that this one divides fans, don't come here expecting intrigue, suspense or chills and thrills, this one is out and out melodrama, an affair of the heart, not even an X Files twist.

I have to be honest, I was a little disappointed, I was excited to see Mulder and Scully in England, I wanted to see if they'd be there for real, or if it would have been done in the style of Murder she wrote, with a London bus and taxi somewhere in the middle of L. A.

We get to learn that Scully has a penchant for the more mature gentleman, and I have to admit, I thought Anderson was awesome throughout.

The daughter did my head in, Maggy was the most irritating, stroppy character, she stormed out of the room in every scene, bar one.

Moby didn't half get some of his awesome music played on the show, I've heard his tunes a few times.

I wouldn't want episodes like this one to come along too often, but it wasn't a bad watch, 6/10.

In my opinion this is one of the best episodes on learning about Scully's life. There are two types of episodes. Those with special effects and UFOs -the signature of the X-Files-, and those where we learn more on the life and psychology of the characters -Molder and Scully. This one falls into the latter category. I love this episode because I can learn about Scully's past. One where she is emotionally involved in a forbidden affair, where she loved passionately. Also, the music used in this episode gives a really special touch as well as the use of images make and camera angles makes it very interesting, in my opinion. Although it is not a typical X File episode,I must admit, and I really enjoy it a lot. I have seen it in several re-runs and I still like it, more and more. Scully's performance is great. She shows a new side of her, one where she displays confusing and contradicting emotions. Psychologically is very interesting, which is the main perspective of the episode. Also as I said before, the song chosen for this episode is great. I bought it on itunes. I like the filmography and the notion of time-splitting that is presented in this episode. In summary, I recommend it, but I warn fans of the X Files to look at this episode with different eyes. In summary, I like it!!!

Like the above poster, this is far from my favorite episode - either when it aired or watching it again all these years later. Parts of it are way too touchy-feely and smack of pop psychology, and the slo-mo effects are little gimmicky. At times, it feels like a music video (though a nicely done one) with bits of drama and narrative thrown in.

But seeing it again, I appreciate that it gives us a different glimpse of Scully. Like many females, I loved Scully's intelligence and determination throughout the series, but in this episode, it was nice to see her passion too, even if it also means she might not be perfect in her choices. Finally, she gets to respond to impulses that aren't governed by logic or science! Preceding X-Files writers (Glen Morgan and James Wong, especially) were instrumental in making Scully her own person, independent of Mulder, but leave it to Gillian Anderson herself to force the question of Scully's life outside of the X-Files.

An episode written by Gillian Anderson, in which she plays herself rather than Scully, which barely features Mulder, which is about a long lost love interest we have never heard of. This isn't even an episode of the X-Files, it's just some some hospital soap opera.

This guy we are supposed to care about means nothing to us, and the writing is all over the place. It was very difficult to follow and all a bit pointless.

The Taoism/Buddhism connection was also completely out of character considering Scully's strong history of Christianity in the show. Again, it was added because Gillian Anderson was interested in it. I think it's an interesting topic and I'm sure the writers could have come up with a real plot for it but it had no place in this episode, which itself has no bearing on the wider show. Just immediately forgotten as the silliness it is. Season 7 really is where The X-Files jumped the shark repeatedly.

The one saving grace of this episode is that it's better than the comedy/musical episode that David Duchovny directs two episodes later.

there is this moment in the episode when you see such tenderness and longing in Scully -- a memory of a great love and loss... it is when she learns he has been in DC for all this time... i found it so incredibly tender... it so perfectly captured that moment we all have when we remember what was and what might have been... i am still blown away when i see the way she bends forward and touches his hand... the rest of the episode is a blur, just back fill. but that scene to me is priceless and makes this whole episode so utterly great... when you look at the first season (which would mean Scully had just ended the relationship a couple years before), she is young and driven and professional -- it's hard to imagine that she felt such passion and pathos... i wonder if she could only show it with the passage of time and realization of where she is at now...

"All Things" follows Dana Scully as she consciously drops out of her routine as the great skeptic, Mulder's straight-man, and instead is cast into circumstances entirely outside her expertise and experience, the spiritual, emotional, even the feminine aspects of this world. This is an entirely different, introspective interpretation of the X Files' fundamental theme of other world influences on human existence. In keeping with this "other world" theme, Scully finds herself dealing not with aliens and present dangers, but with the interconnectedness of all things, her own past decisions and their unintended consequences. And to reflect this mirroring of the usual X Files' storyline, the plot progression throughout this episode does not rely on causal connections and reasoning, but instead the plot is moved forward by synchronicity and emotion, the forces at work on the other side of all our lives. There is some exceptional cinematography in this episode, as for example in the sidewalk scene, unexpectedly broken like a dream by the creaking Apothecary sign. (Look up the etymology for the word. It's about things that are concealed, put away. The creaking sign represents Scully's awakening to aspects of her own life that she needs to recognize and come to terms with.)

"All Things" is a pretty spectacular first effort for writer-and-director Gillian Anderson, a bold re-formulation of the series' tried-and true thematic foundations. This episode also gives us the best use of music in the entire series. Moby's "The Sky is Broken" works to tie the tale together like The Dude's rug. "All Things" gets my vote as the most impressive episode of the entire X-Files series…and the runner-up is right down the road at "Hollywood A.D."

Don't listen to haters this is in amazing episode both spiritual for tru believers this episode more than life , sometimes we need to stop rushing and see inside ourselfs into deepest mysteryies of our mind energy and soul, love it!

The episode isn't brilliant but it isn't trash either. We get to see that Scully is far from flawless. If you're confronted with your past, you're forced to make peace with it and deal with your present life and choices. If all you want is the brainless entertainment you will hate this episode. I don't blame Gillian Anderson for wanting to give Scully's character more depth. We know Scully; the scientist, her morales, her loyalties and her religion. Now we get a peek at Scully; the woman.

This episode is extremely out of place, and hard to follow. None of it makes any sense in the greater scheme of things. A big letdown.

This Ep started out with Tension - The Sexual Tension which had been Held at Equilibrium for the previous 7 years. This Cardinal Rule was broken at the beginning of this Ep. But it was broken for a very good reason and an equally good episode.

The thing the two Leads in a Series ought to Never Do - And Skully was awkward with it for the rest of the Episode.

The interesting thing here is the way this is introduced, we are shown an image of a Morning After. What happened The Night Before is not mentioned. Not here, and not in the rest of the series, except for one episode of the 9th Season by someone whose knowledge of the event is as mysterious as they were.

We see right off the bat, Mulder is fine with this change in status between the two, but Skully-all of a sudden she is not as supportive of Mulder as she was previously. For the first time, she tells Mulder outright that this particular effort he wants to embark on is Worthless.

For the first time, Skully refuses to go to an X-File with Mulder, and what does he do? He's OK with it, he'll go by himself.

And leaves Skully with some suspiciously New-Age things to check out. A woman who makes Computer generated predictions of the variations on Mandelbrot Set that may be made into Crop Circles.

I don't know if Gillian Anderson is into New Age things, Skully is basically against these things. At least The Skully that Mulder met in Season 1 - She would refuse to grant any credibility to any form of alternate Medicine or Healing.

Which is what makes this a very interesting X-Files X-File. There are times when we need to stop the clock and see what is happening around us.

And so this is about, what Skully Would have done, and what Skully does do in the present time. It's about the Subtle changes a person goes through, it's never all at once, it's always gradual like this. In this Episode, the Herald of that change is the mysterious Woman with the White hat - Who becomes Mulder at the end of the Episode. Actually, not really the Herald of Change, but the Herald of the Knowledge that things have changed. Because Skully would have just gone about her business and never would have known anything had happened, except for the unusual circumstances in this episode.

The Skully of Season 1 never would have looked for a Holistic Healer - But this Skully in an almost out-of-character way brings the Holistic Healer to her friend.

Which means, it was out of character in the past - But it is not now.

How many times, have we said to ourselves, "I'd never do that" - Or of someone else, "They'd never do that" and then it gets done?

It's because we did not know ourselves or others as well as we thought.

Sometimes, little changes with a person - Sometimes, nothing changes, except everything.

Possibly my most hated episode - to the point where I am forced to write a review.

The disjointed story line which was all over the place. The dumb music that kept repeating throughout. The hospital patient that no one cares about. The hospital patients bipolar daughter. The cheesy slow motion shots e.g. The part when she was walking down the street with the flowers was especially cringeworthy.

The episode feels like it was written by some 15 year old edgelord. I spent the whole time cringing.

First of all... Moby? Worst music ever. What the hell happened to this series? This episode was the most boring, pretentious X-Files ever. Didn't it occur to anyone that this was a painfully embarrassing episode being made? It was basically a soap opera. I first began watching the X-files back in the 90's when it came out. I'm betting this episode is why I eventually bailed. I think they should have ended it around season 4 or 5. Too many shows extend way beyond their creativity(Supernatural, hint, hint). I'll keep watching though. I can't imagine it will get much worse at this point. Guess I'll find out soon enough. No wonder David Duchovny walked away from the show. Wait. He probably ran.

Bizarre plot. Overdramatic. Not enough Mulder. Overall lameness guaranteed.