diff --git a/graphql/schema/schema.graphql b/graphql/schema/schema.graphql
index 9db3d90ab53..d1994378ead 100644
--- a/graphql/schema/schema.graphql
+++ b/graphql/schema/schema.graphql
@@ -389,12 +389,29 @@ type Mutation {
   """
   setPluginsEnabled(enabledMap: BoolMap!): Boolean!
 
-  "Run plugin task. Returns the job ID"
+  """
+  Run a plugin task.
+  If task_name is provided, then the task must exist in the plugin config and the tasks configuration
+  will be used to run the plugin.
+  If no task_name is provided, then the plugin will be executed with the arguments provided only.
+  Returns the job ID
+  """
   runPluginTask(
     plugin_id: ID!
-    task_name: String!
-    args: [PluginArgInput!]
+    "if provided, then the default args will be applied"
+    task_name: String
+    "displayed in the task queue"
+    description: String
+    args: [PluginArgInput!] @deprecated(reason: "Use args_map instead")
+    args_map: Map
   ): ID!
+
+  """
+  Runs a plugin operation. The operation is run immediately and does not use the job queue.
+  Returns a map of the result.
+  """
+  runPluginOperation(plugin_id: ID!, args: Map): Any
+
   reloadPlugins: Boolean!
 
   """
diff --git a/internal/api/resolver_mutation_plugin.go b/internal/api/resolver_mutation_plugin.go
index 8aa520c08c5..15d3e47218c 100644
--- a/internal/api/resolver_mutation_plugin.go
+++ b/internal/api/resolver_mutation_plugin.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package api
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"strconv"
 
 	"github.com/stashapp/stash/internal/manager"
 	"github.com/stashapp/stash/internal/manager/config"
@@ -9,10 +10,72 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stashapp/stash/pkg/sliceutil"
 )
 
-func (r *mutationResolver) RunPluginTask(ctx context.Context, pluginID string, taskName string, args []*plugin.PluginArgInput) (string, error) {
+func toPluginArgs(args []*plugin.PluginArgInput) plugin.OperationInput {
+	ret := make(plugin.OperationInput)
+	for _, a := range args {
+		ret[a.Key] = toPluginArgValue(a.Value)
+	}
+
+	return ret
+}
+
+func toPluginArgValue(arg *plugin.PluginValueInput) interface{} {
+	if arg == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	switch {
+	case arg.Str != nil:
+		return *arg.Str
+	case arg.I != nil:
+		return *arg.I
+	case arg.B != nil:
+		return *arg.B
+	case arg.F != nil:
+		return *arg.F
+	case arg.O != nil:
+		return toPluginArgs(arg.O)
+	case arg.A != nil:
+		var ret []interface{}
+		for _, v := range arg.A {
+			ret = append(ret, toPluginArgValue(v))
+		}
+		return ret
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (r *mutationResolver) RunPluginTask(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	pluginID string,
+	taskName *string,
+	description *string,
+	args []*plugin.PluginArgInput,
+	argsMap map[string]interface{},
+) (string, error) {
+	if argsMap == nil {
+		// convert args to map
+		// otherwise ignore args in favour of args map
+		argsMap = toPluginArgs(args)
+	}
+
+	m := manager.GetInstance()
+	jobID := m.RunPluginTask(ctx, pluginID, taskName, description, argsMap)
+	return strconv.Itoa(jobID), nil
+}
+
+func (r *mutationResolver) RunPluginOperation(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	pluginID string,
+	args map[string]interface{},
+) (interface{}, error) {
+	if args == nil {
+		args = make(map[string]interface{})
+	}
+
 	m := manager.GetInstance()
-	m.RunPluginTask(ctx, pluginID, taskName, args)
-	return "todo", nil
+	return m.PluginCache.RunPlugin(ctx, pluginID, args)
 }
 
 func (r *mutationResolver) ReloadPlugins(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
diff --git a/internal/manager/task_plugin.go b/internal/manager/task_plugin.go
index 78cd5db0282..c8be8dfd5c7 100644
--- a/internal/manager/task_plugin.go
+++ b/internal/manager/task_plugin.go
@@ -9,7 +9,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stashapp/stash/pkg/plugin"
 )
 
-func (s *Manager) RunPluginTask(ctx context.Context, pluginID string, taskName string, args []*plugin.PluginArgInput) int {
+func (s *Manager) RunPluginTask(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	pluginID string,
+	taskName *string,
+	description *string,
+	args plugin.OperationInput,
+) int {
 	j := job.MakeJobExec(func(jobCtx context.Context, progress *job.Progress) {
 		pluginProgress := make(chan float64)
 		task, err := s.PluginCache.CreateTask(ctx, pluginID, taskName, args, pluginProgress)
@@ -56,5 +62,12 @@ func (s *Manager) RunPluginTask(ctx context.Context, pluginID string, taskName s
 		}
 	})
 
-	return s.JobManager.Add(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("Running plugin task: %s", taskName), j)
+	displayName := pluginID
+	if taskName != nil {
+		displayName = *taskName
+	}
+	if description != nil {
+		displayName = *description
+	}
+	return s.JobManager.Add(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("Running plugin task: %s", displayName), j)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/plugin/args.go b/pkg/plugin/args.go
index d85a624c77e..8b8f9c2e291 100644
--- a/pkg/plugin/args.go
+++ b/pkg/plugin/args.go
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package plugin
 
+type OperationInput map[string]interface{}
+
 type PluginArgInput struct {
 	Key   string            `json:"key"`
 	Value *PluginValueInput `json:"value"`
@@ -14,28 +16,11 @@ type PluginValueInput struct {
 	A   []*PluginValueInput `json:"a"`
 }
 
-func findArg(args []*PluginArgInput, name string) *PluginArgInput {
-	for _, v := range args {
-		if v.Key == name {
-			return v
-		}
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-func applyDefaultArgs(args []*PluginArgInput, defaultArgs map[string]string) []*PluginArgInput {
+func applyDefaultArgs(args OperationInput, defaultArgs map[string]string) {
 	for k, v := range defaultArgs {
-		if arg := findArg(args, k); arg == nil {
-			v := v // Copy v, because it's being exported out of the loop
-			args = append(args, &PluginArgInput{
-				Key: k,
-				Value: &PluginValueInput{
-					Str: &v,
-				},
-			})
+		_, found := args[k]
+		if !found {
+			args[k] = v
 		}
 	}
-
-	return args
 }
diff --git a/pkg/plugin/config.go b/pkg/plugin/config.go
index 325ba56e8e3..88e7e73247c 100644
--- a/pkg/plugin/config.go
+++ b/pkg/plugin/config.go
@@ -295,7 +295,9 @@ func (c Config) getConfigPath() string {
 func (c Config) getExecCommand(task *OperationConfig) []string {
 	ret := c.Exec
 
-	ret = append(ret, task.ExecArgs...)
+	if task != nil {
+		ret = append(ret, task.ExecArgs...)
+	}
 
 	if len(ret) > 0 {
 		_, err := exec.LookPath(ret[0])
diff --git a/pkg/plugin/convert.go b/pkg/plugin/convert.go
index 7aeb9598319..6b910428574 100644
--- a/pkg/plugin/convert.go
+++ b/pkg/plugin/convert.go
@@ -4,38 +4,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stashapp/stash/pkg/plugin/common"
 )
 
-func toPluginArgs(args []*PluginArgInput) common.ArgsMap {
+func toPluginArgs(args OperationInput) common.ArgsMap {
 	ret := make(common.ArgsMap)
-	for _, a := range args {
-		ret[a.Key] = toPluginArgValue(a.Value)
+	for k, a := range args {
+		ret[k] = common.PluginArgValue(a)
 	}
 
 	return ret
 }
-
-func toPluginArgValue(arg *PluginValueInput) common.PluginArgValue {
-	if arg == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	switch {
-	case arg.Str != nil:
-		return common.PluginArgValue(*arg.Str)
-	case arg.I != nil:
-		return common.PluginArgValue(*arg.I)
-	case arg.B != nil:
-		return common.PluginArgValue(*arg.B)
-	case arg.F != nil:
-		return common.PluginArgValue(*arg.F)
-	case arg.O != nil:
-		return common.PluginArgValue(toPluginArgs(arg.O))
-	case arg.A != nil:
-		var ret []common.PluginArgValue
-		for _, v := range arg.A {
-			ret = append(ret, toPluginArgValue(v))
-		}
-		return common.PluginArgValue(ret)
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/pkg/plugin/examples/js/js.js b/pkg/plugin/examples/js/js.js
index 39ba1f5c6de..b9c8063c4e2 100644
--- a/pkg/plugin/examples/js/js.js
+++ b/pkg/plugin/examples/js/js.js
@@ -2,26 +2,40 @@ var tagName = "Hawwwwt"
 
 function main() {
     var modeArg = input.Args.mode;
-    try {
-        if (modeArg == "" || modeArg == "add") {
-            addTag();
-        } else if (modeArg == "remove") {
-            removeTag();
-        } else if (modeArg == "long") {
-            doLongTask();
-        } else if (modeArg == "indef") {
-            doIndefiniteTask();
-        } else if (modeArg == "hook") {
-            doHookTask();
+    if (modeArg !== undefined) {
+        try {
+            if (modeArg == "" || modeArg == "add") {
+                addTag();
+            } else if (modeArg == "remove") {
+                removeTag();
+            } else if (modeArg == "long") {
+                doLongTask();
+            } else if (modeArg == "indef") {
+                doIndefiniteTask();
+            } else if (modeArg == "hook") {
+                doHookTask();
+            }
+        } catch (err) {
+            return {
+                Error: err
+            };
         }
-    } catch (err) {
+
+        return {
+            Output: "ok"
+        };
+    }
+
+    if (input.Args.error) {
         return {
-            Error: err
+            Error: input.Args.error
         };
     }
 
+    // immediate mode
+    // just return the args
     return {
-        Output: "ok"
+        Output: input.Args
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/plugin/js.go b/pkg/plugin/js.go
index 2ebbb6ccc08..e50376c5474 100644
--- a/pkg/plugin/js.go
+++ b/pkg/plugin/js.go
@@ -45,7 +45,9 @@ func (t *jsPluginTask) makeOutput(o otto.Value) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	t.result.Output, _ = asObj.Get("Output")
+	output, _ := asObj.Get("Output")
+	t.result.Output, _ = output.Export()
+
 	err, _ := asObj.Get("Error")
 	if !err.IsUndefined() {
 		errStr := err.String()
diff --git a/pkg/plugin/plugins.go b/pkg/plugin/plugins.go
index b92539529dc..d6f7161f78b 100644
--- a/pkg/plugin/plugins.go
+++ b/pkg/plugin/plugins.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ package plugin
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
@@ -225,8 +226,10 @@ func (c Cache) ListPluginTasks() []*PluginTask {
 	return ret
 }
 
-func buildPluginInput(plugin *Config, operation *OperationConfig, serverConnection common.StashServerConnection, args []*PluginArgInput) common.PluginInput {
-	args = applyDefaultArgs(args, operation.DefaultArgs)
+func buildPluginInput(plugin *Config, operation *OperationConfig, serverConnection common.StashServerConnection, args OperationInput) common.PluginInput {
+	if operation != nil {
+		applyDefaultArgs(args, operation.DefaultArgs)
+	}
 	serverConnection.PluginDir = plugin.getConfigPath()
 	return common.PluginInput{
 		ServerConnection: serverConnection,
@@ -255,7 +258,7 @@ func (c Cache) makeServerConnection(ctx context.Context) common.StashServerConne
 // CreateTask runs the plugin operation for the pluginID and operation
 // name provided. Returns an error if the plugin or the operation could not be
 // resolved.
-func (c Cache) CreateTask(ctx context.Context, pluginID string, operationName string, args []*PluginArgInput, progress chan float64) (Task, error) {
+func (c Cache) CreateTask(ctx context.Context, pluginID string, operationName *string, args OperationInput, progress chan float64) (Task, error) {
 	serverConnection := c.makeServerConnection(ctx)
 
 	if c.pluginDisabled(pluginID) {
@@ -269,9 +272,12 @@ func (c Cache) CreateTask(ctx context.Context, pluginID string, operationName st
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no plugin with ID %s", pluginID)
 	}
 
-	operation := plugin.getTask(operationName)
-	if operation == nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no task with name %s in plugin %s", operationName, plugin.getName())
+	var operation *OperationConfig
+	if operationName != nil {
+		operation = plugin.getTask(*operationName)
+		if operation == nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("no task with name %s in plugin %s", *operationName, plugin.getName())
+		}
 	}
 
 	task := pluginTask{
@@ -285,6 +291,68 @@ func (c Cache) CreateTask(ctx context.Context, pluginID string, operationName st
 	return task.createTask(), nil
 }
 
+func (c Cache) RunPlugin(ctx context.Context, pluginID string, args OperationInput) (interface{}, error) {
+	serverConnection := c.makeServerConnection(ctx)
+
+	if c.pluginDisabled(pluginID) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("plugin %s is disabled", pluginID)
+	}
+
+	// find the plugin
+	plugin := c.getPlugin(pluginID)
+
+	pluginInput := buildPluginInput(plugin, nil, serverConnection, args)
+
+	pt := pluginTask{
+		plugin:       plugin,
+		input:        pluginInput,
+		gqlHandler:   c.gqlHandler,
+		serverConfig: c.config,
+	}
+
+	task := pt.createTask()
+	if err := task.Start(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if err := waitForTask(ctx, task); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	output := task.GetResult()
+	if output == nil {
+		logger.Debugf("%s: returned no result", pluginID)
+		return nil, nil
+	} else {
+		if output.Error != nil {
+			return nil, errors.New(*output.Error)
+		}
+
+		return output.Output, nil
+	}
+}
+
+func waitForTask(ctx context.Context, task Task) error {
+	// handle cancel from context
+	c := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		task.Wait()
+		close(c)
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		if err := task.Stop(); err != nil {
+			logger.Warnf("could not stop task: %v", err)
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("operation cancelled")
+	case <-c:
+		// task finished normally
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (c Cache) ExecutePostHooks(ctx context.Context, id int, hookType HookTriggerEnum, input interface{}, inputFields []string) {
 	if err := c.executePostHooks(ctx, hookType, common.HookContext{
 		ID:          id,
@@ -343,21 +411,8 @@ func (c Cache) executePostHooks(ctx context.Context, hookType HookTriggerEnum, h
 				return err
 			}
 
-			// handle cancel from context
-			c := make(chan struct{})
-			go func() {
-				task.Wait()
-				close(c)
-			}()
-
-			select {
-			case <-ctx.Done():
-				if err := task.Stop(); err != nil {
-					logger.Warnf("could not stop task: %v", err)
-				}
-				return fmt.Errorf("operation cancelled")
-			case <-c:
-				// task finished normally
+			if err := waitForTask(ctx, task); err != nil {
+				return err
 			}
 
 			output := task.GetResult()
diff --git a/pkg/plugin/raw.go b/pkg/plugin/raw.go
index f276e139c4d..6b78451effe 100644
--- a/pkg/plugin/raw.go
+++ b/pkg/plugin/raw.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func (t *rawPluginTask) Start() error {
 
 	command := t.plugin.getExecCommand(t.operation)
 	if len(command) == 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("empty exec value in operation %s", t.operation.Name)
+		return fmt.Errorf("empty exec value")
 	}
 
 	var cmd *exec.Cmd
diff --git a/pkg/plugin/rpc.go b/pkg/plugin/rpc.go
index 49955a55ba4..ebe6a404440 100644
--- a/pkg/plugin/rpc.go
+++ b/pkg/plugin/rpc.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func (t *rpcPluginTask) Start() error {
 
 	command := t.plugin.getExecCommand(t.operation)
 	if len(command) == 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("empty exec value in operation %s", t.operation.Name)
+		return fmt.Errorf("empty exec value")
 	}
 
 	pluginErrReader, pluginErrWriter := io.Pipe()
diff --git a/ui/v2.5/graphql/mutations/plugins.graphql b/ui/v2.5/graphql/mutations/plugins.graphql
index e39611625ba..c4bd3cad9c5 100644
--- a/ui/v2.5/graphql/mutations/plugins.graphql
+++ b/ui/v2.5/graphql/mutations/plugins.graphql
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ mutation ReloadPlugins {
   reloadPlugins
 }
 
-mutation RunPluginTask(
-  $plugin_id: ID!
-  $task_name: String!
-  $args: [PluginArgInput!]
-) {
-  runPluginTask(plugin_id: $plugin_id, task_name: $task_name, args: $args)
+mutation RunPluginTask($plugin_id: ID!, $task_name: String!, $args_map: Map) {
+  runPluginTask(
+    plugin_id: $plugin_id
+    task_name: $task_name
+    args_map: $args_map
+  )
 }
 
 mutation ConfigurePlugin($plugin_id: ID!, $input: Map!) {
diff --git a/ui/v2.5/src/core/StashService.ts b/ui/v2.5/src/core/StashService.ts
index 8ff6e388a72..aa0f6131302 100644
--- a/ui/v2.5/src/core/StashService.ts
+++ b/ui/v2.5/src/core/StashService.ts
@@ -2360,7 +2360,7 @@ export const mutateMetadataClean = (input: GQL.CleanMetadataInput) =>
 export const mutateRunPluginTask = (
   pluginId: string,
   taskName: string,
-  args?: GQL.PluginArgInput[]
+  args?: GQL.Scalars["Map"]["input"]
 ) =>
   client.mutate<GQL.RunPluginTaskMutation>({
     mutation: GQL.RunPluginTaskDocument,