Jesse Putnam

“	So you're a witch. In that case, there's no harm in telling you: I am Maerceci. Overlord of Gluttony. Devourer of Flesh. Demon from the Bowels.	”
	— Apophis to Sabrina^[src]

Jesse Putnam was a recurring character on Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. He was portrayed by Jason Beaudoin.

Jesse was the possessed brother of Joe Putnam and uncle of Theo Putnam.

Early Life[]

When he was younger, Jesse came out about his gender preference to his parents. His parents however did not receive the news well.^[1]

As he was working in the Greendale Mines, he encountered the demon Apophis, and it possessed him. The demon eventually drove him insane, which led to his brother becoming his caretaker, with Jesse remaining in a bedridden, catatonic state.

Throughout Chilling Adventures of Sabrina[]

Part 1[]

Possessed by Apophis[]

CAOS-Caps-1x04-Witch-Academy-98-Jesse — Jesse tells Harvey the Dark Lord is coming for him

Jesse is cared for by Susie, Roz, and Harvey, who inquire about how he became ill. Harvey’s been in the mines as well and wonders if they encountered the same beast. Jesse, who is in a catatonic-like condition, suddenly jumps up and says to Harvey: "He’s going to eat your soul." He tackles Harvey onto the ground and proceeds to choke him until Susie hits him over the head with a tin can.

Susie, Roz, and Harvey have bound Jesse to the bed. He doesn’t speak, though his eyes are discolored and his skin is covered in blisters.^[2]

CAOS-Caps-1x06-An-Exorcism-in-Greendale-10-Jesse — Jesse appears to Roz

While drawing in his room, Harvey has a hallucination of Jesse. He tells Harvey that he is gutless and that his soul is filled with fear. And for it, he will die. Jesse then appears to Roz in her kitchen. He says that she lacks faith. So as punishment, she will be made blind. Lastly, he visits Susie and calls her an abomination and “boy-girl.” And he is to be killed because of it. Frightened, Susie goes to check on her uncle, who is still bound to his bed.

CAOS-Caps-1x06-An-Exorcism-in-Greendale-38-Jesse — Maerceci reveals his name to Sabrina

Sabrina astral projects into Jesse’s room. He asks her to come closer before realizing that she’s impure. He explains that all he wants is spoiled, debased, and corrupt humans, starting with Jesse. And when he’s done, he’ll move on to a new vessel. The demon inside Jesse explains that Jesse was chosen because he’s sinful, a sodomite to be exact. But more than anything, Jesse was convenient as Jesse set him free. He then reveals that his name is Maerceci. “Overlord of Gluttony. Devourer of Flesh. Demon from the Bowels.” Later, it is revealed to be a prank, as the name is just "ice cream" spelled backwards. Sabrina tells him to leave, but he refuses and spews vomit acid at her but it goes directly through her as she is merely a projection . So he attacks her astral body until she is saved by Ambrose.

CAOS-Caps-1x06-An-Exorcism-in-Greendale-75-Jesse — Apophis is exorcised from Jesse

Sabrina returns with Hilda and Madam Satan, posing as Ms. Wardwell. They’ve discovered that his real name is Apophis and that he is a devouring worm. The three witches proceed to perform an exorcism. He claims that he’s going to eat all her friends one by one and that her parents’ death is her fault, but the witches persist until Apophis is expelled from Jesse’s body with help from Zelda.

Jesse survives the exorcism. He is later visited by Madam Satan, who tells him that he served a greater purpose before killing him with a poppet.^[3]

Part 3[]

Field of Witness[]

Sabrina, Harvey, Roz, and Theo go to Hell in search of Lilith. They arrive at the Field of Witness, where souls have been strung up on crosses and tortured; eyes picked out by the crows. Theo discovers that his uncle Jesse is one of the tortured souls. He strays off the road to free him. Jesse reveals that Lilith sent him to Hell. Theo pleads with Sabrina to help him. Sabrina places a protection spell on Jesse and vows to free him. Later, Sabrina convinces Lilith to free Jesse's soul from Hell.^[4]

Physical Appearance[]

Due to being bedridden for all of his appearances, Jesse was a gruffly looking man with a stumbled beard.

Personality[]

Due to him being a host for the demon, Apophis, none of his true personality had a chance to be revealed. Although Jesse's brother believed that something snapped in him after one of his shifts at the mines, which suggests that Jesse was a mentally sane person prior to his possession. It's mentioned by his brother that Jesse used to dress up in his mother's dresses.

The reason behind this is later revealed. When Joe Putnam is told by his son Theo that Theo liked guys, Joe reveals that Jesse had told their parents something similar, a fact that his parents didn't take well.^[5]