I think the last two strips were filler. Pretty much since Angus went to the call back, which lines up with the switch to words-lite, QC has refocused to it's main characters. That means Marten+Faye with side of Dora.
So it seems likely that Tai's outburst was part of the side of Dora. That Tai wasn't acting in her capacity as a viewpoint character, but as supporting character. We know Jeph's winging it, to a certain extent, and he's historically been good about not dropping plot threads. I suspect the first idea involving the Svenectomy involved more Sven, but the comic didn't flow in that direction. It's been long enough that I thought it was an abandoned plot. But I think Jeph may be of the opinion that Dora overracted to Faye's drinking at work.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think Dora overracted. But, as an honest observer, I can think of equally appropriate responses that did not involve firing Faye on the spot.
Given the way Tai tied together the Faye issue with the Sven problem, and then joined it, I suspect we are looking at exactly the "Dora has control issues" plot that's been proposed.
Historically, Jeph has handled these things in fairly realistic manner. That is, shit happens, and shit slides. Like real life (at least what I've experienced) people tend to gloss over problems in QC--trying not to sweat the small stuff, or second guessing their feelings--until the shit piles up. Then there's drama, followed by reconciliation.
But with the change to fewer words, I'm not really sure if that pattern holds. There was drama. Probably the biggest bit of drama Jeph's ever done--though I don't think he expected that. To a certain extent, it would seem the reconciliation has started, with Faye actually trying to face her problems. Dora's side of the story could be viewed as Dora's side of that reconciliation phase, but the connection to Sven makes it seem like part of a different plot.
I'm a sucker for a happy coupling. I think about shows like Mad about You, and I'm reminded that you can have drama and conflict (and comedy) in a relationship without resorting to a break up. So I am inclined to want Dora and Tai to hold together.
If this is really a side show to the end of Faye's drama, and begining of Faye's struggle, then I suspect it will blow over. But if (and the writer in me favors this_ it is the next phase in a build up to Dora-drama, I expect Dora isn't going to be able to admit fault to Tai as easily as she did to herself.
We had one beat out of 9 between Tai leaving and Dora acknowledging her wrong. Logically, that's more than enough time for Dora to have gone after Tai, and tried to make it right. I'd like to think that finding out Dora didn't do that would hint that she is not able to tell Tai tai what she told herself. But the new pacing (it's not really that new, anymore) makes it difficult to say. I know there have been other cases where what commenters here expected to happen next was basically just skipped. I can't imagine the old pacing going from Hanners is frustrated with Marigold to Hanners appears to be sincerely asking after Dale.
I can imagine, with this current style, that Dora patched things up off screen, but the writer in me sees that Dora has fired Marten's roommate, is Marten's ex, and has just had a romantic stumble with Marten's boss. Marten is as Main as the main characters get, so it seems like we should expect more drama between Tai and Dora.
):