It works because we like Jorah, but...
The GoT crew is probably just laughing at how much they have us in the palm of their hand when a guy who we haven't seen for maybe a season and a half (Jorah) returns to the show, and his possible death, the prospect of him dying, works as a cliffhanger. We bought that. Even though he hasn't been around for 1.5 seasons.
Maybe that speaks to how much we liked him and Kaleesi's journeys together, as that was really the point where Kaleesi's story took off and it seems to have sputtered since his departure (imo, of course).
Hoping he survives, and the council somehow becomes him x Tyrion x Kaleesi vs. The World.