If this is TL;DR
then just watch this: [link]

I have a suggestion.

Watch Legend of the Galactic Heroes.

You might ask, 'I like things that are in the past. Why are you telling me to watch something set in the future?'

Well, here's some summaries;
"The story of two mighty space empires is told from the viewpoint of two 'heroes': Reinhard Von Musel, Admiral of the Galactic Empire, and Yang Wenli, Admiral from the Alliance of Free Planets. Both men are military and tactical geniuses and are born survivors. The ambitious Reinhard has the goal of getting enough power to be able to free his sister from her obligation as one of the Emperor's Court ladies. He is fairly ruthless in this which is tempered only by his aide: Siegfried Kircheis. Yang is a pacifistic man who, when necessary, will do his duty even if it means fighting against an enemy fleet (since he is a *soldier*, after all). The drama between these two men is played out against a backdrop of great space battles, inept commanders, frightened soldiers, personal relationships, corrupt politicians and the workings of two space empires at war with each other. This is a space opera on a very grand scale. Note that there is a very heavy Prussian influence on the series, especially present in the Imperial uniforms..."

"Colonized space is split down the center between the corrupt and inefficient Free Planets Alliance and the top-heavy, moribund Galactic Empire, who have been entangled for years in a quagmire of a war with each other. A tilt in the balance, however, seems imminent as a new generation of military and political minds rise to prominence on both sides of the conflict. The question is whether they are as apt to rip up the institutions they're tasked to uphold as much as those of the enemy."

"For decades, the Galactic Empire has been locked in an interstellar war with the Free Planets Alliance, a conflict that involves thousands of spaceships and millions of soldiers on both sides. Two new commanders enter the conflict with great hopes: Imperial Admiral Reinhard von Lohengramm and the FPA's Yang Wen-Li. As they deal with superiors and subordinates, maneuver through complicated political arrangements, plot strategies, and win battles, each will be tested, and ultimately, changed, by the reality of war."

Basically, space Prussia and any European country at the moment have Pre-Napoleon wars with space ships. There's also an earth cult and an independent merchant planet headed by a bald Russian.

The series' soundtrack is almost entirely classical music. Brahms, Wagner, Mahler, all in there.

One of the few things that isn't afraid to say that autocracy is not all bad. Democracy and Dictatorships are viewed in an objective manner. Philosophy is heavy going, but the series is never preachy.

It's very hard to articulately explain just how good this series is. It can be heartbreaking, inspiring, shocking and hilarious. The characters are brilliant .

Admittedly, it's size and animation quality will put a lot of shallow viewers off, which is why Legend of the Galactic Heroes is not overly popular, but those who have seen it regard it to be the best.

If anything you've read here has piqued your interest at all then try out the first few episodes, they're all on youtube. If it hasn't, try looking it up elsewhere.