They were rich, spoiled, and selfish yet the Gossip Girl gang had their moments. The credo of their world might have been give-me-where's-mine-I-want but when the chips were down the Upper East Side backstabbers had each others backs--especially when outsiders showed up to rock their cotillion-drenched world. Just ask Georgina Sparks, Juliet Sharp, and Ivy Dickens to name a mere few.
Even though the times when frenemies stood up for friends were few and far between when those scenarios took place they tugged at our heartstrings. F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote: "The rich are different." And they are, except when they're being kind. Then they're just like everyone else who knows if you want to feel better, do something for someone else.
Serena Shows Up For Eric
The day she returned to NYC from boarding school, Serena made a pit stop at the Waldorf penthouse looking for her mother only to learn her younger brother was being hidden away in a hospital after a self-harm incident.
The show never delves into why Eric did what he did, but because it's obvious he's in a vulnerable state, it is comforting to see Serena climb into bed to hug her brother (after having slept in his bedside chair all night). It seemed that Serena needed to get away to take care of herself so she could come back and take care of her brother, since their mother appeared to be rather cold and more interested in her family's image than her family.
Blair And Dorota's True Friendship
"Wedding is supposed to be big...grand...perfect," said the pregnant Dorota. But even on the day of her marriage, she was there for her beloved charge who was once again heartbroken over Chuck. Dorota leaves her ceremony to tell Blair she only wants her to be happy.
With so much emphasis on the friendships among the rich and the beautiful teens, who's dating who, who's invited to which party and wearing what, there was something very touching about the way these two women from different worlds cared for each other. As Dorota had helped raise Blair, they were indeed more like family than any of Blair's other relationships.
Lily And Rufus Reunite With Their Son
Even though the storyline and character of Scott Rosson fizzled into oblivion, seeing that there was more of a connection between Lily and Rufus than 'musician and his groupie muse' made their relationship more real and understandable. Lily confesses she gave away their son because she was too young and Rufus was too into becoming a rock star.
After the three find each other, Scott realizes he's not meant for NYC and belongs with the people who raised him. The trio shares a group hug for what might have been.
Chuck's Mother Returns
This parent-child reunion had more legs. Chuck was raised by an emotionally distant father because his mother supposedly died during childbirth, making Chuck the hard shell of a guy he is. When it is revealed that Elizabeth Fisher (formerly known as Evelyn Bass) is not dead and visits with him to explain what happened.
Chuck is, more times than not, not a nice person. But understanding his family dynamic and the loss he's suffered along the way, although doesn't excuse his behavior, explains his reasons for it. However, the storyline took a soap opera-ish turn, where Elizabeth is involved with Bart's brother Jack, who is trying to steal the company from Chuck.
Dan Saved Jenny From Chuck
When Chuck hits on freshman Jenny at the Kiss on the Lips party, she knows she's in trouble and sends an SOS out to Dan.
It was already clear that the Humphrey siblings are in it together, first as children of separated parents, then as the outsiders from the BK going to school with the rich kids. Unlike Serena who stood up to her mother for Eric, Dan has more to lose. By standing up to and making an enemy of Chuck, he is keeping himself out of the in-crowd.
Dan Made Blair Feel Like A Princess
At first blush, this scenario might seem like just another day for Blair to play dress up, but it was meant to get her back on her feet after her divorce. Dan brought Blair back to the place where she last felt like a Queen Bee--The Met steps. Dressed in a pink gown and wearing a faux-diamond tiara, she was surrounded by a coterie of fangirls taking selfies.
This is especially soul-stirring, since down to earth Dan is the last person to foster the MMA hierarchy that had made him so cynical and ostracized in high school, but he put his own feelings aside to help Blair, allowing himself to see the sweetness in the scenario that deep down he believes to be silly.
The Gang Searches For Serena
No one had seen or heard from her all summer. In fact, the group had treated her pretty shabbily, so in an effort to start her life over, Serena got on a train and left.
In the meantime, everyone--including Georgina--was on the case of the missing blonde. It was encouraging to see them all together (and not for a gala) and being selfless because they were each genuinely concerned for their friend, with Nate even trading a Spectator story that would unmask Gossip Girl for info on Serena's whereabouts.
Chuck And Dan Took In Nate
After his dad was arrested and subsequently skipped town, the FBI took all of the Archibalds' worldly possessions. Then his mom left NYC in shame, leaving Nate to live alone in their empty townhouse like a squatter with no heat or hot water.
Both Dan and Chuck take turns letting Nate live with them. It was easy to see how salt of the earth Dan would help someone down on his luck, but truly gratifying to see that Chuck didn't abandon the former scion once he was no longer in the group's social circle.
Chuck Paid Off Blair's Dowry
Since money was such a major part of the show it was good to for once see it being used wisely. When Blair's union with Louis went bust, it wasn't that easy to get a divorce. Her family had to buy her out of the marriage, which meant dissolving Eleanor's fashion business. To help his friend, the Bass heir paid the debt.
Chuck has more money than he knows what to do with, and many times he spends it on limos, women, and liquor. It was gladdening to see him use his resources to do good for others. It also showed that there was no amount of money more important to him than his love for Blair.
Chuck And Blair's Wedding
She planned on it being the social event of the Upper East Side, except there was a little matter of the police coming to arrest the groom. And so the gang ran--literally--into iconic Central Park, Chuck and Blair said their 'I dos' speedily, then Mr. Bass gave Mrs. Bass a totally romantic, sweep her off her feet kiss.
The moving thing about these nuptials is how atypical it was for these two showy social climbers and how it proved them as finally realizing none of the glitz and glam mattered, just the fact that they were finally together, sharing their moment with only those who mattered; and of course, that Blair was going to stand by her man regardless of the impending circumstances.