The show Gossip Girl was full of complex characters who didn't always make the best choices. Both teenagers and adults made mistakes throughout their time on the show, but there wasn't a truly evil character, except for Bart Bass and maybe Russell Thorpe. Everyone else just enjoyed playing the twisted games everyone in the Upper East Side seemed to find so entertaining.
However, there were a couple of characters whose actions were not only selfless but perhaps heroic. These people were friends, family, and even former foes who redeemed themselves. Their contributions not only made the show more entertaining but also easier for Serena and her friends.
Lily Bass
Lily isn't exactly mother of the year, quite the opposite. She's too selfish and vain, and she often spends days and even months without communicating with her children. But Lily isn't entirely self-centered, and she proves her love for her family more than once.
Most notably, she confesses to her forging Serena's signature and lying to frame Ben, all so she can save Chuck's company. Thanks to her, Bass Industries lived to see another day.
Jonathan Whitney
Eric's first serious boyfriend, Jonathan, is one of the most wholesome characters in the show. He genuinely cares for Eric, gets along with his family, and helps him deal with his self-esteem issues. Eric didn't have the best time in season 1, so it was nice to see him so healthy and happy in season 2.
Unfortunately, their relationship ends, leaving fans disappointed. And while Eric's next boyfriend, Eliot, is also a decent guy, he's not quite as charming or sympathetic as Jonathan.
CeCe Rhodes
Like many other characters in the show, CeCe Rhodes seems like an outright villain during her first appearance on the show. She goes out of her way to separate Dan and Serena and manipulates both her daughter and granddaughter to do her bidding.
CeCe then changes and becomes an unexpected ally. She arranges Dan and Serena's first reconciliation, acts as Rufus's ally when Lily begins lying about her whereabouts, and even takes Ivy in. CeCe indeed enjoys stirring the pot, but it's undeniable that she made the show a lot more entertaining.
Noah Shapiro
In season 2, when Dan wants to get into Yale, he meets Noah Shapiro, an author who will hopefully provide a recommendation letter. Noah is rude and blunt, telling Dan that all his stories are boring before encouraging him to step out of his comfort zone. After Dan has a taste of the dark side, he rejects it, and Noah basically calls him a failure.
Noah returns in Season 5, still a jerk, but a helpful one. He is responsible for getting Dan to admit he wrote Inside and shows genuine happiness at the young author's success.
Dorota
Dorota, Blair's loyal and resourceful maid and confidante, is one of the show's unsung heroes. She's there for Blair every step of the way, often acting more like a mother than Eleanor and more like a friend than Serena. Although their relationship begins with a regular boss-employee dynamic, it soon changes into a more caring and intimate one.
Dorota is crucial in several of Blair's plots. She also shows unwavering loyalty to the young Waldorf, and Blair even considers Dorota part of her inner circle.
Carter Baizen
In season 1, Carter comes off as a good-for-nothing slacker who hustles for a living. He retains his carefree and slightly duplicitous attitude for the remainder of the show, but he does become a more mature and stable young man out of love for Serena.
Carter even tries to settle his debts with the Buckleys, and although he fails, he states he doesn't want to keep going down the same path. He's also there for Serena when her father rejects her the first time. His and Serena's relationship is surprisingly wholesome, and plenty of fans actively rooted for it. But, alas, it ended pretty quickly.
Jack Bass
Jack Bass has so much money and time in his hands that he uses both to bother others. He is spoiled and morally reprehensible and indeed does a lot of awful things throughout the show. However, he also proves himself a worthy and exceptional ally, especially to Chuck.
After Bart returns to life, Jack is the one who helps Chuck plans his retaliation. He also arranges everything so that Chuck and Blair can get married and hides the couple from the cops. Jack is even a guest at Dan and Serena's wedding, proving he left his rivalry with Chuck in the past.
Nate Archibald
Sweet, unassuming Nate Archibald always was out of his depth when it came to the show's schemes. A himbo in every sense of the word, Nate didn't enjoy the games that Chuck and Blair played. He struggled to keep up with Serena and always felt ashamed of his privileged background.
Nate is also the only person never to tip Gossip Girl until it was necessary. Time and again, he proves he's a decent and laid-back guy, struggling to find his path in life. He's always there to support his friends, hardly ever judges anyone, and tries to stay out of problems.
Georgina Sparks
Georgina is the very definition of an anti-hero. She does a lot of harm to Serena in season 1 before turning a new leaf thanks to religion. That doesn't last very long, and Georgina goes back to her old ways, this time directing her vendetta against Blair.
Starting with season 6, she becomes an unlikely ally to everyone. She helps Dan write the best possible book, assists the gang in numerous schemes, and even helps with Chuck and Blair's shotgun wedding. By the end of the show, Georgina is no longer an enemy, but a close friend of the group, seemingly in a relationship with Jack Bass.
Cyrus Rose
Out of all the parental figures on the show, Cyrus is by far the best. He's a sweetheart who's always there to provide help and guidance to whoever asks for it. Cyrus aids Blair multiple times, like when he helps her get into NYU and hooks her up with Lady Gaga. Cyrus also becomes a surrogate father figure to her and officiates her wedding to Chuck.
On top of that, Cyrus is an actual war hero. He seems to be the best of these complex characters.