The reveal that Ms. Hawking and Ben know each other changes everything in my mind.
Was she lying to Desmond? If so, why? Could he have saved Charlie? Could the theory of "Course Correction" even be plausible? Isn't it more likely that anytime a time traveller makes changes in the past, that a new parallel dimension is created?
Was Hawking's advice to Desmond in Desmond's best interests; or to further own agenda, or Ben's?
She always knew up to a point what was going to happen. But there comes a point and she tells Penny that she doesn't know what is going to happen next.
She does not like Ben she does not trust him. remember at one point she was leader and we have yet to find out why and how he got that away from her or if it had passed to Widmore, then Ben took it.
Oh and is the clever man someone we know